How Nigeria Used Parliamentary Diplomacy To Tackle Xenophobia, Border Issues-Kalu
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has stated that, Nigeria used Parliamentary Diplomacy to tackle border challenges as well as other issues like xenophobic attacks against her citizens.
Kalu was quoted in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, while speaking in an address at the ongoing 148th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Debate in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday, themed: “Parliamentary Diplomacy; Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding”.
He informed that, through a synergy with the Executive Arm led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, normalcy has returned to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) subregion as borders have been reopened to allow free movement of humans, good and services.
He said, “My dear friends and colleagues, war is ugly; my advice according to Sun Tzu is that “whoever wishes to fight must count the cost – it is very expensive in human and material costs.
“Parliamentary diplomacy offers a strategic approach to global peace.We must focus on conflict prevention, management, and post-conflictpeacebuilding. Furthermore, as a parliament, our commitment to legislative diplomacy working in concert with the Executive led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has gradually seen the return of normalcy in ECOWAS where the closed borders have been opened to ensure the free movement of goods and citizens.
“In the same vein, this tool has also been deployed in the face of misunderstandings between citizens of different countries leading to xenophobic attacks.”
Kalu further stated that the parliament has adopted a non kinetic approach to restore peace in the south eastern part of the country.
The Deputy Speaker added, “As a legislature, we adopt particular programmes that address peculiar challenges to peace. In this way, we have adopted the “Peace in Southeast Project”, employing a non-kinetic approach that focuses on reconciliation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and reintegration which goes to address the multi-decades-old devastating effects of war in South East Nigeria.
“For us, this is legislative diplomacy in action, fostering peace and development within our borders-representing a model for post-conflict peacebuilding. In addition, PISE-P birthed the passage of the South East Development Commission Bill, soon to be sent to the peace-loving President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for assent”.
