Former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has called on the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to have a rethink on its decision to deploy soldiers to The Gambia if incumbent President Yahya Jammeh refuses to step down at the expiration of his tenure on January 18.

Ekweremadu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, on Tuesday in Abuja, warned that taking military action in the Gambia could plunge the country into bloodletting and threaten the security of the entire sub-region.

He however advised that the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, as well as the international community should continue to employ the use of dialogue and to allow Gambian laws to prevail as a sovereign nation.

He also said that in the event that dialogue and judicial options fail, sanctions should be considered in line with the traditions and relevant Protocols of ECOWAS,

“We must all acknowledge the fact that Gambia is a sovereign state,” Ekweremadu stated.

“If her Constitution and electoral laws allow for judicial role in resolving electoral disputes, then the Gambian constitutional courts must be allowed to count in resolving the political impasse.

“If the Gambian laws are preempted and her sovereignty breached, it could set a bad and crisis-triggering precedence.

“The sub-region must uphold the rule of law for the sake of the peace, stability and prosperity of Gambia.

“We must take all necessary steps as a sub-region to steer the West African nation and indeed the entire community away from any looming bloodshed and monumental destruction,’’ he warned.

The deputy Senate President, however, commended ECOWAS Heads of State and Government for the concern and commitment toward resolving the political situation in Gambia.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari especially for his determination to resolve the political situation in that country.

But he warned against actions that could further deteriorate the already precarious security in the West African Sub Region.

Ekweremadu stated: “From Liberia to Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire, among others, West Africa has seen so much bloodletting and political instability.

“Heavy destruction of lives and property has been visited on the sub-region by insurgency and terrorism, which remain present danger to the peace and security of West Africa.

“Instructively, what normally started like child’s play often resulted in protracted, but avoidable political upheavals and fratricidal wars.”

The former ECOWAS Speaker called on Gambian authorities to ensure the protection of the fundamental and political rights of all Gambians and the opposition, to avoid escalation of the crisis.