By Kemo Cham
Nigeria’s new President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the new chairman of the Authority of Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Mr Tinubu was elected at the just concluded 63rd Ordinary Summit of the bloc’s heads of states in Bissau, the capital of Guinea Bissau.
The Nigerian leader succeeded Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who held the rotating position for the last one year.
The new ECOWAS chairman dedicated his leadership to fight to entrench democratic culture and to tackle terrorism, among the many insecurity issues facing the sub region.
“Democracy is very tough but it is the best form of government,” Tinubu was quoted saying in a statement issued by the Nigerian presidency in which he also vowed to stem growing trend of military coups in the region.
Tinubu also pledged to use his term as ECOWAS chairman to promote inclusive governance in the organization.
The Bissau Summit was convened to discuss issues threatening sub-regional peace and security, among others.
President Julius Maada Bio is among about 10 heads of states and governments who attended Sunday’s Summit which was preceded by the 50th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC) and the 90th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Council of Ministers on the financial situation of the bloc from July 7 to 7.
The other leaders who attended the Summit include President George Weah of Liberia, Macky Sall of Senegal, Nana Akufo-Ado of Ghana and Adama Barrow of The Gambia.
Also in attendance were the Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbé and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki.
