Former Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has described the exit of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States as a serious concern.

Mr Atiku also urged the Federal Government to be steadfast in the nation’s national security interest in a post published on his X account on Sunday, emphasising the fight against terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.

“Reports about the withdrawal of three countries from our sub-regional body, @ecowas_cedeao, are concerning. It is a matter of serious diplomatic meltdown. We must keep the country’s national security interest, especially the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and others in focus while we appraise the situation. -AA

On Sunday, the military administrations of three West African countries—Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso—announced their decision to withdraw from the subregional organisation known as the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS.

The military government claimed that the ECOWAS group’s pan-Africanism and the loss of ideas by its founding fathers were the main reasons for their decision in a statement jointly signed by the three countries on Sunday.

They further claimed that the developments had betrayed the organisation’s basic ideals and posed a threat to the happiness of its member states and their citizens.

After 49 years of existence, the valiant people of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger note with much regret, bitterness, and great disappointment that ECOWAS has moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and Pan-Africanism.

Atiku stated, “Furthermore, ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to its member states and its populations with the happiness it is supposed to ensure.”