Citizens Letter to ECOWAS HS on 3rd Term Agenda (Demo Gd Gov Protocol Amdt) - The National Association of Nigerian Traders NANTS

20th June 2022

His Excellences,

ECOWAS Heads of State and Government

Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government

C/O ECOWAS Commission

101, Yakubu Gowon Crescent

Asokoro – Abuja

NIGERIA

Attention: HE President Nana Akufo Addo

Chairman, ECOWAS Heads of State and Government

Your Excellences,

The West African civil society, private sector, professional and socio-professional organizations under

the auspices of ECOWAS Community Citizens, wish to commend you for the courageous step you

have recently taken to stop the incessant political turmoil in the region majorly engineered by the

attempt by some political leaders in the various Member States to perpetuate themselves in office

through unwholesome and backdoor of ‘Constitution amendment.’

The recent bold attempt to amend the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and

the insistence that no elected leader should be allowed to go beyond a second term in office is indeed

an encouragement to the people of West Africa. We salute your courage!

Excellences, we are aware that last week, during the meeting of Foreign Ministers of ECOWAS

member States held in Accra, Ghana, which among other things, focused on the amendment of

Protocol A/SP1/12/01 on Democracy and Good Governance, additional to the Protocol relating

to the mechanism for the prevention, management, resolution of conflicts, maintenance of peace

and security, the key amendment introduced in the new Act relates to Section 1 dealing with the

principles of constitutional convergence. For us as a people, the introduction of a new paragraph in

Article 1, relating to the limit of term of office of the president in all ECOWAS member countries, to

wit, that: “Member States shall adopt provisions in their respective Constitutions to ensure that no

President of the Republic shall exercise more than two (2) terms or extend his term for any reason

or in any form” is indeed historic.

We are further deeply impressed that twelve (12) Member States have supported and promoted this

desire to reform and modernize Community instruments to adapt them to the times and to the needs

and concerns of the people. However, we are shocked, sad and disappointed (though not totally

surprised) that three (3) Member States, namely; Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo are resisting this

positive initiative, insisting that the subject matter should be left to the whims and caprices of Member

States. Unfortunately, they appear to have forgotten that this is a critical matter has kept the ECOWAS

region on her knees till date. We recall that in 2012, a similar proposal was submitted to ECOWAS

Member States, and sadly, Togo (whose democratic reality and trajectory we know), and the Gambia

of Yaya Jammeh torpedoed the term limit project for self-centered reasons. Resistance can only be an

invitation to chaos, anarchy and undemocratic rule. The case of Guinea should still be fresh in the

minds of those opposing this laudable piece of legislation. We cannot continue to relish in anti-

democratic processes while our populations wallow in the trap of poverty and squalor. We are being

laughed to scorn.

Your Excellences, as you plan to meet for the ratification during the next Summit of Heads of State

scheduled for July 3, we appeal to you and more so, the Heads of State Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal

to listen to the voice of the people and endorse the provisions for the good of the people.

If, despite the goodwill of the 12 States and the appeal of the citizens of ECOWAS, these three States

decide to maintain their position against this amendment, we request you, Mr. President, to invoke

Article 20 of the Rules of Procedure of the Conference of Heads of State and Government in order to

adopt this decision by a 2/3 majority of the States present and entitled to vote. By this singular act of

patriotism, history would have vindicated and justified you and your colleagues on this side of the sail

as key promoters of peace, justice, integration and sustainable development in West Africa. We are

watching!

We call on the various Parliaments in West Africa, well-meaning citizens of ECOWAS, to rise up and

prevail on the conscience of the three Heads of State so that the said provisions of the amendment to

the Supplementary Act are endorsed and ratified. In doing this, we owe you a great deal of honour.

Please accept, Your Excellences, the assurance of our highest consideration.

Yours Sincerely,

For: ECOWAS Community Citizens

Dr Cheikh Tidiane DIEYE

(+221) 775372549)

Dieye3@hotmail.com

Dr Ken UKAOHA (Esq)

(+234) 8033002001)

kenukaoha@gmail.com

Copied to:

1. The President, ECOWAS Commission
2. The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament
3. The Chairman, African Union
4. The UN Representative for ECOWAS
5. Representative of the European Union
6. Diplomatic Missions and Development Partners