The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government has elected President Bola Tinubu as its Chairman.
At the 63rd Ordinary Session of the regional bloc, convened on Sunday afternoon in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, President Tinubu was elected chairman.
Tinubu stated, upon receiving his handover documents from Guinea-Bissau’s outgoing chairman and president, Umaro Embaló, “We will take democracy seriously. Democracy is a very difficult form of government, but it is the form of government.”
The position of chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is held by one of the chiefs of state or government of the member states, chosen by rotation for a one-year term.
Remember that former President Muhammadu Buhari served from 2018 to 2019.
The chairman of ECOWAS plays a strategic role in conflict resolution and advocacy, and liaises with the President of the ECOWAS Commission, who is responsible for the daily administration and implementation of ECOWAS policies and decisions.
Earlier today (Sunday), a media adviser to the president, Bayo Onanuga, announced that President Tinubu would be elected chairman.
Tinubu left Nigeria on Saturday for Guinea-Bissau to attend the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.
Onanuga stated, "Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will become the new ECOWAS chairman today, superseding Guinea Bissau’s President Umaro Embalo, who assumed the position on July 4, 2022, at the 61st ECOWAS summit in Accra.
“Tinubu’s leadership will be announced today in Bissau at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).”