President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government have condemned Wednesday’s detention of the interim president, the prime minister and other ministers of the transitional government of Burkina Faso in a coup d’état.
Buhari, in a statement on Friday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said he and Nigeria aligned with the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union and the United Nations in rejecting the coup.
He described the coup as a brazen contravention of the constitution and transitional charter of Burkina Faso by elements of the Presidential Guard under the leadership of General Gilbert Diendere.
Buhari urged the defence and security forces of Burkina Faso to ensure the return of the country to full democratic rule after elections.
The elections are slated for October 11 and Nigeria has donated 20 pick-up vans to the National Electoral Commission of Burkina Faso.
While welcoming the release of the Interim President, Mr. Michel Kafando, President Buhari demanded the immediate release of Prime Minister Isaac Zida and other detained ministers.
He said, “Nigeria will give the fullest possible support to ongoing efforts by the ECOWAS mediatory team of President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic to quickly restore Burkina Faso to the path of order, democracy and constitutionalism.
“The President urges the people of Burkina Faso to remain calm and steadfast in support of the transitional order, elections and democratic governance with the full assurance that Nigeria, ECOWAS and the international community will uphold their right to peace, freedom, democracy and good governance.”
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