The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called on parliaments around the world to take a leading role in promoting peace, justice and humanity in the face of escalating global conflicts.
Akpabio made the appeal while speaking at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), held under the theme “Nurturing Hope, Securing Peace and Ensuring Justice for Future Generations.”
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, the Senate President said the world is currently experiencing growing instability that is testing the resilience of nations and institutions.
He described legislatures as “the first hope of the masses” and “the conscience of the people,” stressing their critical role in safeguarding democracy and stability.
Akpabio said Nigeria’s experience in conflict management demonstrates that peace must be actively built and sustained, not assumed.
“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 was quoted as saying.
He warned that no region of the world is immune to instability, pointing to ongoing conflicts across the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
According to him, global priorities must shift from destruction to development, with greater emphasis on peacebuilding and cooperation.
“It is time to turn from destruction to construction…and redirect the instruments of war toward the work of development,” the statement added.
Akpabio also highlighted the human cost of war, noting that beyond statistics lie broken families, displaced communities and long-term social trauma.
He stressed that power must never be mistaken for justice, warning against global inequalities and misuse of authority.
“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 said.
Quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., he called for collective global responsibility and shared humanity in addressing international challenges.
The Senate President urged the IPU to strengthen its role in supporting global institutions, particularly the United Nations, and in amplifying the voices of vulnerable nations.
Earlier, IPU President Tulia Ackson urged member parliaments to uphold democratic values, strengthen international solidarity and respond decisively to global conflicts and inequality.
She said the world increasingly depends on legislatures not only for lawmaking but also for leadership, accountability and moral guidance.
The IPU is a global body of national parliaments that promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development through parliamentary dialogue and cooperation.
