Kalu calls for greater economic partnerships and free movement across Africa
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Benjamin Kalu called for more economic partnerships and cooperation between the 54 African countries, stressing that the artificial borders that impede the free movement of people and goods must be removed.
The Deputy Speaker made the call on Thursday when he received the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana who paid him a courtesy visit in the company of the Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis and a Member of the Tanzanian Parliament, Hon. Hon. Mlozi Shogo Richard.
Hon. Kalu urged the parliaments of various countries in Africa to review their laws which hinder economic growth and the free movement of people.
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He also condemned the xenophobic attacks in parts of Africa, saying they hinder unity and progress.
He said: "If you are part of the African Union, why the borders, why the restrictions? The restrictions have underdeveloped the continent more than they have lifted it to stand shoulder to shoulder in the Committee of Continents. We must take them seriously and take this message to all the parliaments of our countries for a review of our different positions on this issue.
“I am pleased to announce that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been appointed President of ECOWAS, we will provide all the support that is expected to enable him to succeed in his term as President of ECOWAS and this includes parliament.
“The ECOWAS President expressed in his speech the need to reorganize the ECOWAS Parliament. We need to review the mechanism used so far by the interest of our nations in Parliament.
"We need to review this so that we can stimulate more interest and more motivation that will no longer slow the speed of the ECOWAS Parliament, towards achieving the continental goal of establishing the ECOWAS Parliament.
"We are all one people and we must take steps to strengthen this unity. With unity, we can face the current challenges manifested in transnational violence, threats of coups in some countries in sub-Saharan Africa, slowing economic growth, climate change and human trafficking, especially in Sahelian Africa. We must not let this escalate in the near future.
"After the Berlin Conference which began in 1884 and ended in 1885, Africa has never been the same again, not least because of the artificial borders and the negative consequences of colonialism inflicted on the continent. We in Africa are at a precarious time to correct these flaws and the consequences of this conference. The artificial borders created have become obstacles to pan-African cooperation, trade and growth necessary for Africa's development.
"The launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a step in the right direction. There is no reason why Africans should not trade and travel freely in Africa as there is for Europeans in the European Union.
“Parliament under all circumstances understands legislation and timely diplomatic overtures and this friendly visit is a good example of what we should be doing.
“Pan-African parliamentary organizations must encourage the people and work collectively towards a goal. They must take deliberate steps to work on immigration laws and trade laws to encourage free trade and movement. This will ultimately lead to closer ties and the realization of intra-African trade.
“It held back the Africans, to fight their fellow Africans. Let us be free in East Africa, just as East Africans are free in Nigeria, West Africa."
Hon. Kalu also said that the Nigerian House of Representatives would support Dr. Tulia Ackson's candidacy for the presidency of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), asking that her manifesto be made known to lawmakers.
"I believe that one day there will be a platform where we all come together as one continent, as one nation, divided by the borders created by the best known interests of those who divided us to speak with one voice. The voice of Africa.
"We are one people. We must not let this escalate in the near future. I don't know if this is part of the dreams of the speaker of Tanzania who wants to be the president of the IPU. These are dear to our hearts, we encourage you when you return to inform him. We must know more about his manifesto, what he brings to the inter-parliamentary union.
"The need to engage Africa's largest parliament cannot be overstated, we don't want to be recorded as those who did not support one of our own, but we need to understand their vision for the IPU."
Speaking earlier,...
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Benjamin Kalu called for more economic partnerships and cooperation between the 54 African countries, stressing that the artificial borders that impede the free movement of people and goods must be removed.
The Deputy Speaker made the call on Thursday when he received the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana who paid him a courtesy visit in the company of the Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis and a Member of the Tanzanian Parliament, Hon. Hon. Mlozi Shogo Richard.
Hon. Kalu urged the parliaments of various countries in Africa to review their laws which hinder economic growth and the free movement of people.
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He also condemned the xenophobic attacks in parts of Africa, saying they hinder unity and progress.
He said: "If you are part of the African Union, why the borders, why the restrictions? The restrictions have underdeveloped the continent more than they have lifted it to stand shoulder to shoulder in the Committee of Continents. We must take them seriously and take this message to all the parliaments of our countries for a review of our different positions on this issue.
“I am pleased to announce that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been appointed President of ECOWAS, we will provide all the support that is expected to enable him to succeed in his term as President of ECOWAS and this includes parliament.
“The ECOWAS President expressed in his speech the need to reorganize the ECOWAS Parliament. We need to review the mechanism used so far by the interest of our nations in Parliament.
"We need to review this so that we can stimulate more interest and more motivation that will no longer slow the speed of the ECOWAS Parliament, towards achieving the continental goal of establishing the ECOWAS Parliament.
"We are all one people and we must take steps to strengthen this unity. With unity, we can face the current challenges manifested in transnational violence, threats of coups in some countries in sub-Saharan Africa, slowing economic growth, climate change and human trafficking, especially in Sahelian Africa. We must not let this escalate in the near future.
"After the Berlin Conference which began in 1884 and ended in 1885, Africa has never been the same again, not least because of the artificial borders and the negative consequences of colonialism inflicted on the continent. We in Africa are at a precarious time to correct these flaws and the consequences of this conference. The artificial borders created have become obstacles to pan-African cooperation, trade and growth necessary for Africa's development.
"The launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a step in the right direction. There is no reason why Africans should not trade and travel freely in Africa as there is for Europeans in the European Union.
“Parliament under all circumstances understands legislation and timely diplomatic overtures and this friendly visit is a good example of what we should be doing.
“Pan-African parliamentary organizations must encourage the people and work collectively towards a goal. They must take deliberate steps to work on immigration laws and trade laws to encourage free trade and movement. This will ultimately lead to closer ties and the realization of intra-African trade.
“It held back the Africans, to fight their fellow Africans. Let us be free in East Africa, just as East Africans are free in Nigeria, West Africa."
Hon. Kalu also said that the Nigerian House of Representatives would support Dr. Tulia Ackson's candidacy for the presidency of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), asking that her manifesto be made known to lawmakers.
"I believe that one day there will be a platform where we all come together as one continent, as one nation, divided by the borders created by the best known interests of those who divided us to speak with one voice. The voice of Africa.
"We are one people. We must not let this escalate in the near future. I don't know if this is part of the dreams of the speaker of Tanzania who wants to be the president of the IPU. These are dear to our hearts, we encourage you when you return to inform him. We must know more about his manifesto, what he brings to the inter-parliamentary union.
"The need to engage Africa's largest parliament cannot be overstated, we don't want to be recorded as those who did not support one of our own, but we need to understand their vision for the IPU."
Speaking earlier,...
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