Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, 14th Emir of Kano, has has began dialogue with the coup leaders in Niger Republic on a peaceful resolution of the crisis arising from the July 26, 2023 coup.
The meeting of the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Niger Republic military leadership came after the aborted meeting between the junta and representatives of African Union (AU), Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations (UN) delegations.
The quite diplomacy of Emir Sanusi came to public view when on Wednesday footage of Sanusi and the coup leaders went into circulation.
Sanusi, who is the Khalifa of the Tijjaniya Islamic sect which has a large following in Niger Republic, met the Junta leaders in company of the Sultan of Damagaran. Damagaran is the third largest city in Niger.
Sources confirmed that Sanusi met with the junta to open the door for negotiation, stating: “His Highness took the trip in his personal capacity but with the knowledge of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following his concerns about the impasse and the likely consequences it is already having on Nigeria/Niger relations and the citizens of the two countries.”
The meeting, which comes a day before an emergency meeting of ECOWAS leaders in Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS, had scheduled a meeting for Thursday after the 7-day ultimatum that the regional bloc issued for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum elapsed.
ECOWAS had slammed sanctions on Niger and threatened possible military option, a move that was widely rejected, especially in Nigeria.