Akpabio Challenges IPU to Speak Up on Israeli-Gaza Conflict
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called on the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lend strong voice to the restoration of lasting peace in Gaza.
Akpabio, made the call while contributing to discussions at the ongoing 148th Session of the International Parliamentary Union Assembly, holding in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Senate President, according to a statement by his media office yesterday, stressed the need for nations to rise above sentiments and invoke the spirit of humanity.
He said it was by so doing that what was required to bring sustainable peace to the region, would be achieved.
Some of the resolutions according to him, should include access to humanitarian aid, restoration of normal life to Gaza, as well as meetings on a permanent truce.
He added, "This is a lone voice from Nigeria. We tried our best in Angola and we failed to lend a collective voice to what is happening in Gaza.
"Today, the world is very expectant. We must drop ego. It has nothing to do with which country brings the proposal.
"The basic tenets of humanity demands that we leave here with a resolution for the rest of the world, to show that we have human feelings in us.
"The issues are very clear. If you notice the proposal for 12 blocs; they attempted to even marry the proposals from South Africa.
"Yes, South Africa has a right to be emotional, but we have children who are dying even as we are talking now.
"We have people who do not have water to drink even as we are talking now. We have people who are going to suffer infection from gunshots.
"We have to show the world that we are human beings. The cessation of hostilities must be a part of our resolutions.”
He added: "Access to humanitarian aid must be a part of our resolutions. At the same time, release of hostages and even those who are Prisoners of War, because if both sides take steps in releasing the hostages, releasing the Prisoners of War, it means that both sides have agreed that the International Community can go to the next stage, which is negotiation for sustainable peace.
"If they cannot agree, I would urge that from here, we have a three-man drafting committee to come up with those resolutions which we must make before we leave here.
"We can no longer allow a child to die tonight, without lending our voice. It doesn't matter which side. We are all parents. If we come here to look for ego and then, try to be emotional, it's not affecting them.
"There's nothing affecting Denmark, there's nothing affecting South Africa. The people affected are over there and nobody will agree to the lone resolution from Israel. It must be all-encompassing, so that we stand up from here as human beings. That would be my plea.