By Tarkaa David, Abuja and By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin
A federal lawmaker, Hon. Olaide Akinremi Jagaban, has said the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a step in the right direction.
The lawmaker, in a congratulatory message to Tinubu, said apart from the election further elevating Nigeria’s status as a big brother in the sub-region, it also confirms that leaders of the black race appreciate the leadership and the ideals of responsible democracy in him.
Akinremi, who represents Ibadan North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, noted that Tinubu is well equipped to lead the community to achieve its lofty goals of enhanced security and economic cooperation in West Africa.
On her part, 26 – year – old Kwara lawmaker, Rukayat Shittu while congratulating President Tinubu on his emergence as the ECOWAS chairman, She said Tinubu is the right leader to lead ECOWAS at this challenging moment, “owing to his capacity, experience and ability to simplify complex governance issues into actionable plan with clarity and political will and to mobilise other leaders to lead implementation process.”
The lawmaker, representing Owode/ Onire constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly added that the approach and processes of ECOWAS need to change, not only to accommodate young people, but to adopt different modalities that are more practical and participatory in nature.
The lawmaker explained that, as a young leader, she understand that not many people in the sub-region, especially in her age bracket understand the role of ECOWAS in the sub- continent developmental stride.
She added that as a region with more than 65 percent population below the age of 24, ECOWAS agenda needs to become the agenda of most, if not all its citizens to stand a chance of success.
She aknowledged that as part of its renewal process, ECOWAS is implementing critical and strategic programmes that will deepen cohesion and progressively eliminate identified barriers to full integration, but added that “this integration and cohesion cannot become a reality if majority of the ordinary people, especially the young people, who are the majority of the population are unaware and disconnected from this processes.”
“It is also true that the body is desirous of the citizens of the community to ultimately take ownership for the realization of the vision of moving from an ECOWAS of states to an ECOWAS of the people by 2050, but very little effort is being made to make this vision a reality, especially with the young population”. she said
The lawmaker maintained that, the awareness of young people on ECOWAS mission and processes, will greatly enhance public solidarity and provide the right energy to propel the community into an indivisible force, adding that, “the approach being adopted needs to change, the community must speak the language of its young population and the vision must be ingrained in their day to day activities, especially through variety of channels, including but not limited to the digital space.”
She stated that with the election of President Tinubu as ECOWAS chairman and his proclamation against military disruption to democratic governance in the region, she believe the community needs to put action to words, first by mobilizing joint resources (both human and material) for regional peace and security.
She posited that the Anglophone and Francophone divide in the region must be addressed.
