ECOWAS Parliament, Youths Disagree On Establishment Of Youth Parliament
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
Members of the ECOWAS Parliament yesterday, disagreed with a presentation on the need to establish a Youth Parliament in the West African sub-region at the ongoing High-level Parliamentary seminar organised by the ECOWAS Parliament at Winneba, Ghana.
It was a rowdy session which started when the third Deputy Speaker, Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima from Togo pointed out that the presentation had not been presented to the bureau.
The West Africa Youth Alliance was represented by Mary Onwu from Nigeria and supported by her colleagues from Ghana who were present for the presentation.
Hon. Ibrahima, explained that she was not against youths of the sub-region establishing a Youth Parliament; but advocating that it should be done properly, and not a few selected youths wanting to establish a parliament without taking into account the views of the entire sub-regional youths.
According to the third Deputy Speaker, there is need to revisit the formation of the association to involve all members for it to succeed.
Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, from Nigeria, suppoorted the third Deputy Speaker’s stance, pointing out the need for proper housekeeping and self-auditing and added that anything coming to the parliament should go through the proper channel.
The First Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase who presided over the proceedings intervened and pleaded with his colleagues to let the mistake slide as they will deal with the issue at a closed-door session.
Several MPs in their intervention did not take kindly what was unfolding which led to heated arguments.
The youth group, when reached by journalists, expressed surprise at the turn out of events
It will be recalled that at the opening ceremony of the High-level Seminar, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Tunis, had mentioned that a youth Parliament would be inaugurated.
The Speaker, may have seen the future when he asked that they must be sensitive to the situation of young people in society, who face poverty, barriers to education, many forms of discrimination as well as limited job prospect and opportunities, leaving them susceptible to engaging in anti-democratic initiative.
The establishment of a Youth Parliament, is aligned with the ECOWAS Strategic Objective #5 building ECOWAS into a Community of People fully inclusive of Women, children and youth, is expected to facilitate active participation of youths across the region in achieving the Community vision, in coordination with the ECOWAS Parliament.
