PRESS STATEMENT.      Monday,13 January, 2025

###NIGERIA'S FOREIGN POLICY AND MINISTER MAITAMA TUGGA: OUR STAND:#_

  Muryar Talaka Awareness Initiative,a non-partisan non-governmental and non profit grassroots organization with braches across northern Nigeria,wishes to draw the attention of our fellow Nigerians to the following:

- That democracy remains the best form of government as it allows citizens the freedom to vote for the leaders of their choice and have representatives at various levels of government to voice their plights and make laws that will improve their welfare and well-being.

- Democracy operates on constitution and the rule of law, as the constitution represents the views and aspirations of the people where every citizen is equal before the law

- Through democracy, Nigerians have enjoyed basic rights and privileges recognized by the constitution which include right to life, right to freedom of expression and the press, right to vote and be voted for, right to access justice and many other rights and privileges which may be taken for granted, but are still enjoyed by Nigerians in all parts of the country 

- From 1999 to date, Nigerian have enjoyed dividends of democracy in all sectors of the country's economy which include the provision of healthcare, education, roads infrastructure, human empowerment, enhanced agricultural practices and other benefits too numerous to mention. 

- It is clear that some Nigerians have forgotten the struggles and suffering which citizens were exposed to during the various military regimes that ruled the country following military coups, citizens were denied the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, and many others were jailed without being given fair hearing or access to legal counsel. Many others were killed extrajudically without regard for their human rights. 

- We therefore commend the Nigerian government and ECOWAS for their diplomatic efforts towards Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. President Tinubu has sent a number of high-level delegations that included a former Head of State, traditional rulers and religious leaders to engage the military junta in talks.

- We also commend President Tinubu for the unconditional removal of ECOWAS sanctions imposed on Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso and for persuading them to come up with a timetable for the restoration of constitutional rule while efforts are on to negotiating for the release of ousted President Bazoum in Niger.

- Similarly, we laud the efforts of the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry under the leadership of Yusuf Maitama Tuggar which continues to diplomatically engage the governments of Nigeria, Mali and Burkina Faso towards restoring civil rule in these countries.

Finally,we call on the  federal government of Nigeria to work towards deepening democratic institutions & entrenching the democratic culture of public consultation and free & fair elections.

Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Signed:

Zaidu Bala Kofa Sabuwa Birnin Kebbi

National President,

Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar Unguwa, Katsina,

National Secretary,