.As President Tinubu calls for regional integration
The Speaker of, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, has called for regional solidarity and self-reliance in order to address the challenges confront the region.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Second Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament for 2023, Tunis stated that the region’s prosperity and security are inextricably linked to the people’s shared responsibility to look out for one another.
According to him, “Only a foolish neighbour goes to sleep when his neighbour’s roof is on fire.”
Adding: “In a region of interconnected threats and challenges, we can only address our issues effectively through broad, deep, and sustained cooperation among States.”
Tunis also called for the self-reliance of ECOWAS member states, stressing that the region cannot rely on outside help to solve its numerous problems.
“We need to be more self-reliant. Each Member State must take on more responsibility for the development and advancement of the ECOWAS region.”
Tunis was speaking at a time the region was going through socio-political and economic challenges. These include the political situation in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and the Republic of Niger.
In spite of these challenges, Tunis maintained that he was confident that ECOWAS region was on the right track. He added that the recent Presidential and Legislative elections in the Republic of Liberia were signs of the time.
“The people of Liberia have shown us that democracy is possible in our region,” Tunis said. “We can all learn from their example.”
Tunis also commended ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for its leadership in sustaining peace and security in the West African region.
“The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has played a vital role in maintaining peace and security in our region,” Tunis said. “I am confident that, with the mechanisms and institutions in place to prevent and manage conflicts, advance peace and development and foster trade and regional integration, we are on track to achieving our goal of becoming a model of regional cooperation and integration, not just in Africa, but around the world.”
Earlier, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, who was represented by the Deputy Senate President of the Nigerian Senate, Jibril Barau, canvassed unity and integration among West African nations.
While acknowledging the challenges confronting the region and calling for greater cooperation and integration, President Tinubu nevertheless, highlighted ECOWAS’ successes, including the construction of highways, the bridging of the divide between Francophone and Anglophone countries, and the establishment of an efficient telephone network.
He commended ECOWAS’ accomplishments, noting that “ECOWAS has much to be proud of.”
He specifically cited the construction of major highways, the bridging of the divide between Francophone and Anglophone countries, and the establishment of an efficient telephone network.
He called for African nations to take charge of their own destiny and work together to overcome these challenges.
