Akpabio urges global parliaments to defend peace, justice at IPU assembly
Senate President Godswill Akpabio addressed the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), calling on parliaments worldwide to stand as guardians of peace, justice and humanity amid rising global tensions. Speaking on the theme 'Nurturing Hope, Securing Peace and Ensuring Justice for Future Generations,' Akpabio said peace must be built and defended, drawing on Nigeria's experience with conflict and nation-building.
He described legislatures as "the first hope of the masses" and "the conscience of the people," warning that no region is immune to instability while citing crises in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Akpabio urged turning "from destruction to construction" and redirecting instruments of war toward development work, noting that casualty figures mask broken families and shattered communities.
Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., he pressed for collective action, urging the IPU to strengthen global institutions especially the United Nations and amplify the voice of vulnerable nations. Akpabio affirmed Nigeria's readiness to work with the international community to secure a future where hope, peace and justice endure. Earlier, IPU President Tulia Ackson called on member parliaments to uphold democratic duties and act decisively on conflicts and inequality.