THE Council of the Wise (CoW) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has described as an aberration, Mali parliament’s approval of a five-year transitional government.
Chairman of the CoW and former Nigeria’s President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, said this yesterday at the close of a two-day strategic retreat of the council aimed at preferring solutions to the challenges plaguing the region.
According to him, the parliament was part of the military government not recognised by ECOWAS, which overthrew a democratically elected government in a coup d’état.
He expressed doubts that ECOWAS would accept the five year transition government, adding that as the Mediator for Mali, he believes the duration was too long.
“The parliament of Mali that has approved a five-year transition period is part of the government that is an aberration. They are not elected members of the parliament and that is why ECOWAS do not even accept them to meet in the ECOWAS Parliament.
“In 2012, when we had similar experience in Mali, the former speaker of the parliament became the interim president and within one and half years, election was done and an elected government came to power. ECOWAS does not want any coups in the region, but if it happens, we believe the period, which they will hold office, should not be so long.
“They have already spent one and half years. Adding another five years is like six and half years.”
Continuing, Jonathan urged Presidents and heads of governments to make inclusiveness a deliberate policy as a way to reduce tensions.
To address the socio-political, economic and security challenges confronting West Africa, the CoW recommended the recapitalisation of the regional bank.
It also recommended free, compulsory primary and secondary education for all children in member states to prevent their being recruited, indoctrinated by terror groups.
These recommendations were made at the end of a two-day strategic retreat of the council held in Lagos.
Jonathan said the CoW was concerned about the resurgence of coups in some member states, adding that they have received comprehensive briefing on early warning and threats to peace and security in the sub-region.
