Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has highlighted a significant reduction in crises in the South-East region under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership. According to Kalu, this improvement is due to Tinubu’s innovative use of non-kinetic methods to address the region's issues, marking a notable shift from traditional approaches, as reported by LEADERSHIP.
Kalu made these remarks during the 2024 First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Legislature of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament in Abuja. He noted that, unlike previous administrations that relied heavily on military force, Tinubu has advocated for resolving conflicts through dialogue and sociological analysis.
He said, “Before his (President Tinubu) emergence, it was about Operation Crocodile, Operation Lion, Operation this and that. But through his initiative, he has been able to speak to the military, to look at sociological problems that remain the contributory factors for the crisis, and begin to look at ways of interpreting them and finding ways to bring the people to the table for resolution purposes. It’s a good template that Africa should actually absorb. ECOWAS should also look into.
“Remember I mentioned that my zone is the zone that suffered from the civil war. So the pain is still there, but the approach Mr President is using now is calming the tension there and it’s commendable.“
The Deputy Speaker explained that this new approach has helped calm tensions in the region and has opened avenues for political solutions, including appeals for the release of imprisoned agitators. He praised Tinubu’s strategy as a model for other regions and international bodies like ECOWAS to adopt.
Kalu also acknowledged Tinubu’s support for the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P), which aims to foster peace and improve infrastructure in the region. He emphasized that the administration’s shift away from military solutions towards more constructive methods is both effective and commendable.
Kalu highlighted the positive impact of this approach, noting that it has led to a more peaceful atmosphere in the South-East, contrasting sharply with previous strategies that focused on military operations. He also praised Tinubu for his inclusive governance, particularly in his efforts to integrate more women and youths into the political sphere.
Finally, Kalu congratulated President Tinubu on his reelection as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Governments.