Akpabio Asks Global Parliaments To Defend Peace, Justice At IPU Assembly

Nigeria’s Senate President Godswill Akpabio has challenged parliaments across the world to rise as defenders of peace, justice and humanity, as he addressed delegates at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

In a statement issued yesterday to journalists in Abuja by his special assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, Akpabio spoke under the Assembly’s theme, “Nurturing Hope, Securing Peace and Ensuring Justice for Future Generations.”

He said the gathering came at a time of mounting global tensions, with conflicts spreading across regions and testing the resilience of nations and institutions.

Other speakers at the opening ceremony similarly urged renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation and democratic values.

“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.

Drawing from Nigeria’s experience in conflict resolution and nation-building, the Senate President emphasised the central role of legislatures as “the first hope of the masses,” describing parliaments as “the conscience of the people.”

He warned that no region is immune to instability, citing ongoing conflicts in parts of the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, and called for a global shift from war to development.

“It is time to turn from destruction to construction… and redirect the instruments of war toward the work of development,” he stated.

Highlighting the human cost of conflict, Akpabio stressed that beyond casualty figures lie broken families and devastated communities, urging the global community to reject a world where power defines justice.

“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 added.

Quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., he reminded delegates of humanity’s shared destiny and called for collective global action.

Akpabio further urged the IPU to take a more decisive role in strengthening global institutions, particularly the United Nations, and in amplifying the voices of vulnerable nations.

In his closing remarks, he called for a renewed global commitment, urging delegates to see the moment as a turning point and a covenant with future generations.

Nigeria also reaffirmed its readiness to work with the international community to build a world where hope, peace, and justice endure.

Earlier, the President of the IPU, Tulia Ackson, who is also the Speaker of Tanzania’s National Assembly, urged member parliaments to uphold their democratic responsibilities, strengthen international solidarity, and act decisively to address rising global conflicts and inequalities.

She noted that the world looks to legislatures not only for laws, but for leadership and moral clarity.

The IPU is the global organisation of national parliaments, bringing together legislators worldwide to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development through dialogue, cooperation, and parliamentary diplomacy.