Minister Lauds ECOWAS For Deepening Democratic Governance

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, has commended the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for deepening democratic governance in the region.

Speaking at a sensitisation workshop in Awka recently, Obanikoro said the sub-regional body had done well in the past 40 years in spite of the daunting challenges.

The minister, who was represented by the ministry’s Director (Regions), Amb. Saleh Pisagih, said that ECOWAS had achieved much in the area of peace support operations and the fight against trans-national crimes.

Obanikoro said that the sub-region had continued to demonstrate in political terms, its zero tolerance for undemocratic ascension to power and had further assisted member states in ensuring that democracy and its processes were sustained.

According to him, the commission also recorded great achievements in the area of conflict prevention, management and resolution.

The minister re-emphasised the role of the media in democracy and violent conflict prevention in the sub-region, pointing out that the media remained pivotal in sustaining democracy, peace and security in regional integration.

Obanikoro commended the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, and his team for the structures put in place to address the issues while it partnered with Nigeria in the advocacy and sensitisation programmes.

Earlier, Ouedraogo, who was represented by a senior official of the commission, Mr Okey Uzoechina, said that the organisation’s 40th year anniversary would hold in Abuja on May 28.

He commended the government and the people of Nigeria for the prominent role they played in ECOWAS right from the conception and formation of the regional body in May 1975 to date.

He said that Nigeria had also played a leading role in promoting socio-cultural exchange, in advancing security cooperation and in supporting peacekeeping and peace enforcement where necessary.

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra congratulated ECOWAS on its 40 years of existence and its achievements in the sub-region in spite of the challenges.