Afro-Arab lawmakers meet over global economic crisis – Nigerian Guardian Newspapaers
THE 12th Afro-Arab parliamentary conference began in Abuja yesterday with a critical look at the international economic crisis and energy, food and climate challenges, among others.
The conference is expected to focus on the impact of the current global economic recession and protect the economies of respective countries from difficulties.
In an address at the opening of the conference, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, stated that the meeting was an opportunity to address the challenges posed by the recent economic crisis through a synergy of ideas with a view to proffering solutions.
“We are living in a troubled world constantly faced with threats to the existence of humanity occasioned by hunger, insecurity, weak economies,struggle for supremacy and armed conflicts compounded by frequent reports of acts of terrorism.
“I recognise the role of parliaments in the world over especially in African and Arab countries in ensuring peace, stability as well as the security and general wellbeing of all the people in our various jurisdictions with a view to sensitising delegates to the conference.
“In our search for mutual cooperation at all levels of human endeavour and global peace, our nations must be saved from war, and all forms of terrorism and as well work to sustain global peace and economic prosperity.
“This conference will address the socio-political and economic situation in the world and its impact on Afro-Arab cooperation, and the role of African and Arab parliamentarians in the area of protecting economic realities,” he said.
Also, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in his presentation stated that: “It is encouraging to witness the commitment of parliamentarians from member countries to proffer solutions if we are to succeed in transforming this veritable forum to better economic policies that will turn the economy around.
“The Nigerian government has been able to entrench constructive engagement through the separation of powers that has made the electoral system acceptable to the people in various ways that needed to be addressed,” he said.
From John-Abba Ogbodo and Terhemba Daka, Abuja