By Anayo Akwitti
President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio, has called on parliaments across the world to take a stronger stand as defenders of peace, justice, and humanity amid rising global conflicts.
Addressing delegates at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in Geneva, under the theme, “Nurturing Hope, Securing Peace and Ensuring Justice for Future Generations,” he warned that increasing instability across regions is testing the strength of global institutions and democratic governance.
Akpabio said legislatures must play a central role in restoring global stability, describing parliaments as “the first hope of the masses” and “the conscience of the people.”
“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.
He noted that conflicts across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa underscore the urgency of renewed global cooperation, urging a shift away from warfare toward development.
“It is time to turn from destruction to construction… and redirect the instruments of war toward the work of development,” he said.
Highlighting the human cost of conflict, he warned that wars go beyond statistics, leaving behind broken families and devastated communities.
He also cautioned against global injustice driven by power. “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 further called on the IPU to strengthen global institutions, including the United Nations, and to amplify the voices of vulnerable nations in international decision-making.
Quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., the president of the Senate emphasised humanity’s humanity’s shared responsibility for peace and justice, urging collective global action and renewed moral leadership.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, the IPU President, Tulia Ackson, who also serves as Speaker of Tanzania’s National Assembly, urged parliaments to uphold democratic values, deepen international solidarity, and respond decisively to global conflicts as well as inequality.
She emphasized that the world expects legislatures not only to make laws but also to provide leadership and moral direction in times of crisis.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global body of national parliaments, continues to serve as a platform for dialogue, parliamentary diplomacy, and cooperation aimed at promoting peace, democracy, and sustainable development.
