From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, said efforts were underway to swiftly negotiate the peaceful reinstatement of democratic governance and membership of affected member states within the organisation
Tinubu made this known at the African Regional Dialogue
of the Future, with the theme: “Africa We Want and the United Nations We Need,” held in Abuja by the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD).
The President, who was represented by
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, expressed the government’s concern over the rising threat of widespread terrorism across international borders, insurgency and the interference of the military in governance, particularly, in West Africa.
He urged participants to brainstorm ways for the African Union to collaborate with the UN and international community to halt arms flow, combat terrorism, prevent insurgencies, and deter military involvement in African governance.
“May I use this medium to call on our fellow African leaders to key into this innovative and visionary move to get the African voice to be heard as a partner in the resolution of the global governance challenges in the years ahead. We are making every peaceful effort necessary, under my Chairmanship of the Authority of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, to negotiate the peaceful return of democratic governance and membership of the organization by the affected ECOWAS member States within the shortest possible time.” Tinubu stated.
Ibrahim Gambari, former chief of staff to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and founder of SCDDD, notes that the main aim of the event was to bring together top policy researchers, practitioners, and advocates globally to deliberate on and propose regional and global policy and operational innovations that would promote African perspectives and priorities.
Also was to establish a new platform for African Policy Researchers and Advocates to critically discuss and advance policy research on “What Africa Wants” and the type of relationship the continent needs to have with the United Nations, its agencies and the International Financial Institutions.
Another goal of the event according to Gambari, was to strengthen the African Union, the ECOWAS, and other Regional Economic Groups and the UN Collaboration, including through The New Agenda for Peace, Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations.
He further noted that the recommendations of the conference will be implemented by a body to be created at the end of the Conference.
“Suffice to say that after the opening ceremony, there will be 5 breakthrough groups where the African experts will deliberate around 5 carefully selected thematic areas and come up with recommendations which would be considered and adopted at a plenary session.
“Participants of this conference are drawn from across the African continent experts in the various thematic areas. These include eminent African intellectuals, practitioners and institutional players from the African Union, the Regional Commissions, Civil Society, policy makers, Advocates, gender the youth as well as people living with disabilities.” He added.