Nigeria’s foremost business group, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has urged the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to exercise caution when taking decisions to resolve the lingering political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire, the world’s top cocoa producer.
“Nigeria, as well as ECOWAS, has had enough lessons to learn from the military intervention in Liberia and Sierra Leone under the banner of ECOMOG,” the business group said a statement obtained by PANA here Tuesday.
It said that whatever options are to be chosen by the regional group should be critically weighed, with the full implications analysed, before a final decision is taken.
“There are also current lessons to learn from military interventions in other parts of the world, the cost and consequences of such interventions are often difficult to predict,” the business group said.
The West African Country has been engulfed in deep political crisis since the result of the 28 Nov. presidential runoff was released, showing Alassane Ouattara as winner.
However, incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo has refused to vacate power, leading to double claims to the presidency and forcing ECOWAS to threaten the use of force to kick him out.
The AU has however doused the tension generated by the threat of force by setting up a high-level panel to help resolve the crisis
Despite the long-awaited announcement of an election date for 31 October, key issues remain unresolved. And while a younger generation Read more
