Sanusi briefs Tinubu after meeting with Niger junta, serious detail emerge

The 14th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He went straight to the Villa at about 8:25pm immediately after a high delegation of the Nigeria Islamic Ulama met with the President.

Sanusi just returned from Niger Republic after a meeting with the military junta that took power from the democratically elected President Muhamad Bazoum.

Recall that Sanusi met the coup leaders to open a window for negotiation.

According to reports, Sanusi went in personal capacity but made the president aware ahead of the trip.

A delegation sent by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) failed to broker peace with the military rulers as they declined a meeting.

But on Wednesday, videos of Sanusi, who has a large following in Niger, went viral.

He was seen with the Junta leaders in company of the Sultan of Damagaran - the third biggest city in Niger

Sources revealed that Sanusi went there to open the door for negotiation with the junta.

“His Highness took the trip in his personal capacity but with the knowledge of President Bola 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,” a source said.

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.