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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has called on parliaments across the world to rise as defenders of peace, justice and humanity amid growing global tensions.
Akpabio made the call while addressing delegates at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at Istanbul, Turkey, with the theme, “Nurturing Hope, Securing Peace and Ensuring Justice for Future Generations.”
The IPU brings together national parliaments worldwide to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development through dialogue, cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy.
Speaking at the opening session, Akpabio said the gathering was taking place at a critical period marked by escalating conflicts across regions, which continue to test the resilience of nations and global institutions.
“I bring you warm greetings from the resilient people of Nigeria, a nation that has learned that peace is not inherited; it is built, defended and sustained,” he said.
Drawing from Nigeria’s experience in conflict management and nation-building, he stressed that legislatures must remain the first hope of the masses and serve as the conscience of the people.
He warned that no part of the world is immune to instability, referencing the ongoing crises across the Middle East, Europe and Africa and urged a shift in global priorities from war to development.
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“It is time to turn from destruction to construction and redirect the instruments of war towards the work of development,” he stated.
Highlighting the human cost of conflicts, Akpabio said the impact goes beyond casualty figures to include shattered families and devastated communities. He cautioned against a global order where power overrides justice.
“This is not merely a crisis of security, it is a crisis of leadership. Might must not be mistaken for right and weakness must never justify injustice,” he added.
Quoting civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jnr, he underscored the shared destiny of humanity and called for collective global action.
He further urged the IPU to play a more decisive role in strengthening international institutions, particularly the United Nations, while amplifying the voices of vulnerable nations.
“Let this moment mark a turning point, a covenant not just with our people, but with posterity,” he said, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to working with the international community to advance peace, hope and justice.
IPU president, Tulia Ackson, urged member parliaments to uphold democratic principles, deepen international solidarity and respond decisively to rising global conflicts and inequalities.
Ackson noted that the world looks to legislatures not only for lawmaking, but for leadership and moral clarity in times of uncertainty.
