Charles McCarthy, Editor of the Ghanaian news portal, the Hawk Newspaper has raised some pressing questions regarding Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
In a candid interview with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show, McCarthy questioned the legitimacy of Tinubu’s appointment, stating, “If not for malicious means and agenda how does Nigeria’s Tinubu become a chairman of ECOWAS despite joining the association as a first-timer?”
He emphasized the unusual nature of Tinubu’s rapid ascension, saying, “You join the association as a first-time entrant with no experince and you’re made Chairman of the ECOWAS Association. Where on earth would we see such a thing?”
McCarthy also pointed out the ongoing legal challenges to Tinubu’s presidency in Nigeria as an indictment of his position as the Chairman of the West African bloc. “Even when you tell me that a lot of factors contributed to it, then there’s a big gap because as we speak, currently his win in the Nigerian general elections is still in court and hasn’t been ruled upon,” he remarked.
In a broader critique of ECOWAS, McCarthy expressed his doubts about the organization’s effectiveness and its impact on its member countries, particularly Ghana as he asserted that, “ECOWAS has proven to be an alignment with no purpose and benefit. The current crop of leaders are only causing loss to ECOWAS as a group and the various member countries.”
These thought-provoking remarks from Charles McCarthy come in the wake of Nigeria’s new President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assuming the presidency and subsequently being chosen to lead the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, for the next year. The decision to appoint Tinubu was not without controversy, especially due to his threat to use military force to reverse the coup in neighbouring Niger.
Despite the strong opposition to military intervention, particularly from Nigerian lawmakers representing states along the border with Niger, ECOWAS, under Tinubu’s leadership, had previously set a deadline for the junta to give up power or face possible military action. However, this ultimatum was not immediately enforced, leaving room for diplomatic negotiations.
Charles McCarthy’s critical questioning of Tinubu’s chairmanship in ECOWAS adds to the ongoing discourse surrounding the role and effectiveness of the regional bloc in addressing critical issues in West Africa particularly, the rising trend of coups among its member countries.
