The Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr. Umaro Sissoco Embalo, has called for greater solidarity among African countries in meeting the challenges that affect the whole continent.
Speaking at the opening of the second ordinary session of ECOWAS Parliament on Monday in Abuja, Mr. Embalo, who is also the President of Guinea Bissau, noted that the region is confronted with health and food crisis as well as issues in the area of democracy, sustainable development, immigration and the harmful effects of climate change.
In his address, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, who co-chaired the opening ceremony of the ECOWAS Parliament, commended ECOWAS Parliament’s efforts to promote regional integration, stronger democracy and good governance.
He reassured the ECOWAS Parliament of his Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to support ECOWAS in its efforts towards restoring democracy in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
‘‘We are convinced that the sustenance of democracy and the rule of law should remain the norm in this promising region.
‘‘There will be multiple political activities in some ECOWAS Member States, including Nigeria, where general elections are due to be held in February and March 2023.
‘‘Let me seize this opportunity to reiterate my commitment to free, fair and transparent elections and smooth transitions.
On the election of members of the ECOWAS Parliament by Direct Universal Suffrage, President Buhari strongly declared his support for the process, provided it is conducted with minimum or even at no cost at all, to the Community.
Explaining Nigeria’s support for the process, he noted that ECOWAS Parliament can only fulfill its true mandate when it has a set of directly elected and dedicated Members.
‘‘I believe that a membership of the ECOWAS Parliament, not drawn from serving members of Parliaments of Member States, would be a good step towards injecting our regional integration with new energy and initiative,’’ he said.
‘‘This is one legacy that I want my administration to bequeath, not only to Nigeria, but to the region as a whole,’’ he said.
Citing upcoming elections in Sierra Leone and Liberia, President Buhari declared Nigeria’s readiness to stand by any country in the region that is committed to organising free and fair elections.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, noted that the 2023 consolidated budget of ECOWAS, which is the session’s main agenda item, was prepared with a view to meeting the needs of the region’s population.
As is customary, during ordinary sessions of ECOWAS Parliament, the Presidents of ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, and Community Court of Justice, Edward Amoako Asante, each delivered remarks in which they called for greater solidarity among the Community Institutions.
The statement by the ECOWAS Commission said that the opening ceremony featured speeches delivered by other distinguished guests, including the President of the Pan-African Parliament, Fortune Charumbira and President of the House of Councilors of Morocco, Naam Miyara.
GIK/APA