The Economic Community of West African States Parliament, also referred to as ECOWAS Parliament said, the sub regional Parliament will employ Parliamentary diplomacy to resolve myriad of challenges confronting the region.
The Speaker of the Community Parliament, Rt. Hon. Sidie Mohammed Tunis said this when he played host to the Speaker of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Rt. Hon. Ntakirutimana Joseph, at the Headquarters of ECOWAS Parliament, in Abuja.
In a statement made available to Channel Network Afrique, CNA, the Speaker said, “In ECOWAS, we take parliamentary diplomacy very seriously, especially in troubled areas. It is squarely the responsibility of the executive to find solutions to crisis.
“But in ECOWAS, we ensure that we deploy parliamentary diplomacy to go into these crises area to see what we can do to bring about peaceful settlement including use of mediation. Just recently, there was a parliamentary elections in Guinea, but before then, there was a serious crisis in the country.
“This Parliament went there and took part in the mediation. We are able to bring a lot of players together to discuss the issue and today, they have a Parliament that will be inaugurated towards the end of this month” he said.
He noted that part of the reason for the visit was to evolve mechanism on how the two regional Parliament will collaborate more closely to learn from each other and deepen integration of the continent.
Hon. Tunis said it is the responsibility of the law makers, as representative of the people to ensure that the executive is properly guided for the attainment of free movement of people and goods across Africa.
He however, assured the visiting delegation from East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), led by its Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ntakirutimana Joseph, that ECOWAS will support the candidacy of Speaker of the Tanzania Parliament, Dr. Tulia Ackson for the presidency of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Her vision for the global parliamentary body is effective, accountable and transparent IPU.
Addressing a press conference after a brief meeting with Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, the Speaker of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Rt. Hon. Ntakirutimana Joseph said that in the over 100 year of IPU existence, no African had ever led the institution.
“I am here to try to get the support of ECOWAS for the only African candidate for the presidency of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). IPU has been there for more than 100 years, but this will be the first time an African is aspiring to lead the association.
The candidate from East African state of Tanzania, is also the Speaker of Tanzanian Parliament. She had been endorsed by the African Union. Now we are seeking support of ECOWAS, but the speaker had also assured us. We will be meeting in Angola, in October, and we hope to have all the sub regional bodies to vote as one for the Dr. Ackson,” he said. ,
A member of the delegation and female MP from Tanzania, Dr. Mlozi Shogo Richard, said, Dr.Tulia, is a remarkable lawyer and distinct lecturer.
She expressed optimism that she is the right person for the job.
She however, noted that women had suffered serious marginalization in leadership position in both public and private sector.
“So, Dr.Tulia, becoming the President of IPU will mean empowerment and progress for women. It will mean breaking boundaries and challenging the gender norms that we have.
“It will also inspire a lot of women, not only in Africa but around the world. She would serve as a role model to millions of young women around the world,” she concluded.
