President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have asserted that the scourge of terrorism bedevilling the sub-region requires collective effort to address.
President Buhari, who is also the chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS, said this on Saturday during the opening session of the 54th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State of ECOWAS in Abuja.
He said terrorism and violent extremism had continued to threaten the peace and security of the sub-region.
It is disturbing that the sub-region is still confronted by several challenges including peace and security, he said, saying “it is a matter of concern that terrorism and violent extremism have continued to threaten the peace and security in our sub-region. This threat calls for collective action on our part, if we are to effectively and definitively eliminate it.”
He added, “Indeed, as a community our aspiration is to create a bordered, peaceful, property’s and cohesive region, based on good governance and where our people have the capacity to access and harness its resources through the creation of opportunities for sustainable development, job creation and environment preservation.”
The President noted that insecurity is a threat to the aspirations to create job opportunities for the teaming population stressing that “These lofty ideals are however not attainable without peace and security”; adding that ” is why I have decided to make the issue of peace and security, the major focus of my chairmanship.”
He also told the gathering that the efforts so far by ECOWAS has achieved some measure of success, saying, “We have been able to douse tension and restore confidence in some potentially disruptive political situations, particularly in Guinea Bissau, Togo and Mali.”
The president also called for the support of other partners in the efforts towards eliminating terrorism in the sub-region.
“As we work on new strategies to combat and eradicate this menace, we require the support of our partners to ensure the achievement of our objectives,” he added.
Besides, Buhari also tasked ECOWAS member states on the need to pay their dues promptly, saying that no institution can function effectively with output adequate funding.
“Our determination to create a safe and stable sub-region must be predicated on a strong and capable Organisation. You will all agree with me that no institution can defunct ion effectively without adequate finding.
“This would require that all hands are on deck and that all member states ensure the payment of the statutory community levy as and as when due. By so doing, we will empower and enable the commission to implement the integration agenda, as we march towards the year 2020, and actualised our vision of building an ECOWAS of people’s and not of states,” he added.
He therefore charged other leaders of the sub-region on the need to work towards eliminating other challenges bedevilling the region.
“In light of the continuing fragility of our economies linked closely to commodity prices, our nascent democracies, the negative effects of climate change on our farming systems, the globalization of crime and terrorism, we are required on daily basis, to join forces to eliminate these factors that militate against a secure, conducive and prosperous environment for the benefit of our people.
“These realities remind us f the need for even stronger intra-ECOWAS solidarity in order to address emerging challenges.
“This indeed the very sense of our union. To that end, important decisions are taken in the course of our meeting Ps, with the goal of transforming positively on the lives of our citizens.”
President Buhari also reiterated his commitment to conduct free, fair and peaceful elections.
He said, “On my part, I have already made a pledge to conduct free, fair and credible elections. In the same vein, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other political stakeholders have expressed their unwavering commitment to the conduct of peaceful elections devoid of violence, rancour and acrimony, in higher interest of the nation.”
President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou in his remarks reeled out the improvement in the sub-region, stressing that ECOWAS economic growth is on the rise. He added that inflation was down and the finances remain stable despite the strong pressures related in particular to security issues.
In his remark, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNIWAS), Mr. Ibn Chambas, called for continuous collaboration among member states in the efforts towards ending terrorism in the sub-region.
He said: “Peace and security in the sub-region are still threatened by growing number of terrorist attacks, the consequences of which have a direct impact on the development and coexistence of the different communities. We must intensify efforts to reverse the trend.
“Conflicts between farmers and herders are among the threats to peace and stability in the sub-region. The implementation of measures taken at the ECOWAS ministerial of 26th April in Abuja on this issue would present a peaceful resolution to these conflicts.
“We must continue to work collaboratively on the implementation of the region strategy for stabilization, recovery, development and resilience of the Boko Haram-affected areas of the Lake Chad Basin, which constitute a comprehensive and sustainable response to the challenges facing that region. ”
