President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has pledged Nigeria’s support for trade, political stability, and institutional support within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). These are some of the pledges President Buhari made at the opening of the 2022 2nd ECOWAS Parliament on Monday. The regional parliament commenced its “Budget Session” from its seat in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja this November 28th, 2022.
In his speech at the regional parliament, the Nigerian leader cast an ambitious foreign policy promising his country’s assistance in the stabilization of government, as well restoration of constitutionalism in Mali, Guinea, Burkina-Faso, and other West African Sub-regional countries. He added to calls by Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Head of State and Government, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau who decried the unconstitutional takeover of government in the region.
Buhari said that Nigeria is committed to supporting ECOWAS institutions, and urged ECOWAS Parliamentarians to perform their sacred responsibility of considering the Community budget with diligence while bearing in mind the sacrifice of various countries in the payment of Community Levies.
Towards the step of regional integration and representation in the parliament, President Buhari said: ‘‘I believe that a member of the ECOWAS Parliament, not drawn from serving members of Parliaments of Member States, would be a good step towards injecting our regional integration with new energy and initiative.’’
The issue of Nigeria’s election could not be missed as President Buhari is faced with a windfall election of his own amid terrorism and religious conflict in the North, and threats of secessionist movements in the South.
“Let me seize this opportunity to reiterate my commitment to free, fair, and transparent elections and smooth transitions. This is one legacy that I want my administration to bequeath, not only to Nigeria but to the region as a whole”, said President Buhari. His re-election largely depends on his ability to guarantee peace, security, and economic recovery noting that the global economic downturn has deeply affected the economies of the West Africa sub-region and resulted in dire economic hardships for the citizens of the Community.
