From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged Global South nations to unite in addressing global challenges. Speaking at the Third South-South Parliamentary Dialogue Forum in Rabat, Morocco, he called for stronger cooperation, industrial growth, and political resilience to move beyond mere words.
Akpabio leads a Nigerian delegation of eight senators: Peter Nwaebonyi, Osita Ngwu, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Samaila Kaila, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Salihu Mustapha, Jimoh Ibrahim, and Titus Zam.
The forum’s theme, “Inter-regional and Continental Dialogues in the Countries of the South as a Fundamental Lever to Address the Emerging Challenges of International Cooperation and Achieve Peace, Security, Stability, and Common Development,” framed his address.
“We meet today not to exchange words, but to forge weapons—of ideas, solidarity, bold policy, and brave cooperation. The storms we face—economic upheavals, climate crises, political instability—require united resolve,” Akpabio told lawmakers and diplomats. He praised Morocco as a bridge between continents, calling it a “fulcrum upon which we may turn the heavy wheels of history.”
Citing the global effort to end apartheid, Akpabio stressed solidarity’s power. “No fortress of difficulty—economic, political, or social—can withstand the force of our unity and determination,” he said. He also highlighted Nigeria’s role in regional integration through ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), urging trust and strategic partnerships.
Using an African proverb—“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”—Akpabio pushed for long-term collaboration. He challenged delegates to make the forum a historic moment of action, not just speeches.
“Let it be said of us, in the chronicles of tomorrow, that when history beckoned, we did not falter; when the moment demanded courage, we stood as one; and when the world doubted the South’s strength, we proved unity forged in purpose is a force no power can defeat,” he declared.
Mohamed Ould Errachid, Speaker of Morocco’s House of Councillors and ASSECAA Chairman, opened the forum. He called it “a living testament to the Global South’s will to shape its destiny and build a future of peace, prosperity, and dignity.”
The forum continues in Rabat, focusing on interregional cooperation, economic resilience, security, and sustainable development.