President Buhari frowns at Burkina Faso coup

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday
expressed Nigeria’s condemnation of the
forceful seizure of power from the
transitional government of Burkina Faso by
the military.
Buhari, who frowned at the detention of the
Interim President, Prime Minister and other
ministers by the presidential guards since
Wednesday, demanded a return to the
transition timetable that had been planned to
culminate in presidential election next month.
An Aso Rock statement declared that “Buhari
and Nigeria align with  ECOWAS, the African
Union and the United Nations in rejecting the
brazen contravention of the constitution and
transitional charter of Burkina Faso by
elements of the Presidential Guard under the
leadership of General Gilbert Diendere.
“President Buhari and Nigeria urge the
Defense and Security Forces of Burkina
Faso to keep faith with the agreed
transitional programme for the  return of the
country to full democratic rule after
elections, which were due to be held in the
country on October 11, in support of which
Nigeria has donated 20 pick-up vans to the
National Electoral Commission of Burkina
Faso.
“While welcoming the news that the Interim
President, Mr. Michel Kafando has now been
freed, President Buhari and Nigeria also
demand the immediate release of Prime
Minister Isaac Zida and other detained
ministers.
“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 further urged the people of
Burkina Faso to remain calm and steadfast
in support of the transitional order, elections
and democratic governance.
He assured them that Nigeria, ECOWAS and
the international community would uphold
their right to peace, freedom, democracy
and good governance.