On Sunday, former legislator and social critic, Senator Shehu Sani, claimed that Nigeria lost its African counterparts as a result of its reliance on conditional friendships with Western nations.

This statement comes in response to the news that military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have withdrawn their membership from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 

Sani expressed that their departure from ECOWAS is a significant setback for West Africa.

As reported by Vistanaij Media, the leaders of the three Sahel nations made this announcement in a joint statement on Sunday.

It is worth noting that all three countries were previously suspended from ECOWAS, with Niger and Mali facing severe sanctions.

The military juntas cited it as a “sovereign decision” to leave the Economic Community of West African States “without delay”.

However, the former legislator stated that this development signifies the failure of diplomacy and dialogue.

“The withdrawal of Mali, Niger Republic, and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS is a serious setback for West Africa. It signifies the failure of diplomacy and dialogue. We lost our African counterparts due to our reliance on conditional friendships with Western nations. We sacrificed our hands to keep our wristwatches,” Sani wrote on his X handle.