By Aaron Ossai
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has said that the use of parliamentary diplomacy has helped Nigeria in managing border challenges as well as other issues arising from xenophobic attacks against her citizens.
Rather than going into war which he described as “ugly”, Kalu urged the world to adopt the option of parliamentary diplomacy, stressing that it offers a strategic approach to global peace.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Levinus Nwabughiogu stated that Kalu’s call was contained in his address at the ongoing 148th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Debate in Geneva, Switzerland, themed: “Parliamentary Diplomacy; Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding”.
The Deputy Speaker said that through a synergy with the Executive Arm led by President Bola Tinubu, normalcy has returned to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) subregion where the borders had also been reopened to allow free movement of humans, goods and services.
“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-conflict peace building. Furthermore, as a parliament, our commitment to legislative diplomacy working in concert with the Executive led by President Bola 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”, he added,
Kalu also stated that the parliament has adopted an approach meant to restore peace in the south eastern part of the country through the employment of a non kinetic means.
“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 peace building. 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”, he added.
