Senate mandates Tinubu to use ECOWAS position to stem insecurity

By Haruna Salami

Senate has urged President Bola Tinubu to utilize his position as Chairman of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address the insecurity in the country and the region.

The upper chamber also urged the President to use the position to endure the lost glory of Nigeria’s green passport is restored.

It resolved to join other Heads of Government of ECOWAS member- states and in particular parliaments of member-states to congratulate President Tinubu on his emergence as ECOWAS Chairman at the recently-concluded 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Bissau, capital of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on ‘Congratulating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR on his recent emergence as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)’, sponsored by Senator Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President and co-sponsored by the Senate President and the entire Senate leadership.

Sen. Jibrin noted, with great felicitations, the emergence of the President as ECOWAS Chairman.

He observed that by clinching this influential and strategic position on his very first participation at such high level meeting of ECOWAS barely two months after his inauguration as President, the sub-regional body has reposed great confidence in his leadership qualities, thus reaffirming Nigeria’s role on the African continent generally and the sub-region in particular.

He submitted: “Delighted that as the Chairman of ECOWAS, President Bola Tinubu is in a strategic and vantage position to uphold ECOWAS protocol which is the promotion of peace and conflict resolution within the West African Sub-region, promote democracy and good governance, strengthen collective response to security threats within the sub-region, and generally foster economic cooperation amongst ECOWAS member-states.

“Felicitate with all Nigerians, friends and allies of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on this great honour and privileged position of Chairman of ECOWAS clinched by President Bola Tinubu recently.

“Observes that as a master strategist, mobilizer and globally respected politician, ECOWAS is blessed to have him in the position of Chairman and his wealth of experience will be brought to bear on the implementation of policies of ECOWAS to bring lasting peace and economic prosperity within the west African sub-region;

“Notes that the emergence of President Bola Tinubu as the Chairman of ECOWAS is a testimony of his avowed commitment to good governance promised Nigeria which the policies and decisions taken so far are yielding results and beginning to reposition our economy.”

The Kano North senator noted that since ECOWAS’ establishment in 1975, Nigeria has played key leadership roles particularly in the promotion of sub-regional security, defence, to democracy and human rights, economic integration and collective response to security within the sub-region, insisting that ECOWAS is even better placed under Tinubu’s chairmanship to discharge the above mandates, amongst others.

Contributing to the motion, which received overwhelming support of both majority and minority members of the Senate, Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa North) said the call to lead ECOWAS was additional responsibility on President Tinubu, urging him to live up to the expectations of both Nigerians living in villages who need security coupled as those of the sub-regional body.

Senator Orji Kalu (Abia North) said::“I’m happy that Tinubu is made Chairman of ECOWAS at this time that some countries are banning Nigerian passport”, urging the president to use his position to solve that problem and later rise to become African Union (AU) Chairman.

Senator Sani Musa (Niger East) said the motion has come at the right time when Tinubu said “Nigeria has come back”.

On his part, immediate past Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, submitted that Nigeria has cause to celebrate that “our President is ECOWAS Chairman,” adding that they have to make the Senate effective to support the President.

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Sen. Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) added to the statement that Nigeria is back.

“For me it’s not occupying office that matters, but what you do with that office,” he stated, adding that “Nigerian green passport must be respected.”

Senator Titus Zam (Benue North West) said the position of our President has put him in a good place to look at our borders with neighbouring countries and block those causing problems in Nigeria “but are not from Nigeria.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who was a co-sponsor of the motion, said “it’s uncommon to make someone who attended a meeting for the first time Chairman”.