March 30, 2021
By Mohamed M. Sesay
In his opening remarks of the first extraordinary session of ECOWAS Parliament hosted in Sierra Leone, the right Honorable Member of the fifth legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament RTD. Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis has yesterday the 29th of March, reemphasized need for the Universal Suffrage as one of the highlights of the strategic plan of the ECOWAS Parliament to ensure direct election of members of the ECOWAS Parliament.
Hon. Sidie Tunis noted that since the formation of the ECOWAS Parliament in 2000, the parliament has sufficiently endeavored to perform its role diligently.
He however said, there is need to ensure that election of members of the ECOWAS Parliament must be based on direct universal suffrage. He said similar reform must extend to the power to initiate legislation. He also cited noticeable problem with the parliamentary ombudsman. He disclosed that this is why during the inauguration of the fifth legislature, he identified the election of members by direct Universal Suffrage as a key policy agenda under his tenure.
In order the achieve the direct election of members of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Tunis added that, he had established an Ad hoc committee which comprises sixteen members of the ECOWAS Parliament chaired by the deputy speaker aimed at, reviewing the feasibility of achieving the election of members to the community parliament by direct universal suffrage.
He added that the committee has successfully held its first meeting in Lagos and the report from that meeting was adopted during their last session. He said there will be more engagements on the way and the prospects of achieving the direct election of members.
Hon Sidie Tunis further observed that the direct election by the people they serve will create a sense of responsibility among the leaders and make them realize that they have been chosen by the people to perform in a patriotic and dedicated role. He noted that the direct universal suffrage will also compel them to use the power and authority they have in a positive way for the benefit of the masses.
“Unless the people participate in the development process if not, their set targets and objectives cannot be fully attained, ”Speaker Tunis insists.
He called on His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio to kindly support the proposition by serving as the champion of the cause of direct universal suffrage at the level of Authority of Heads of States.
Hon. Tunis recalled that five presidential elections were held in 2020 across the region, referencing the election held in Guinea, CoteD’ Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Niger that were deemed as free and fair.
He added that the successful conduct of those elections affirms the truism that the growth of democracy across the region is highly visible. In terms of isolated incidences emanating from political grievances, he therefore urged stakeholders in the sub-region to act within the confines of the law and channel all grievances through the acceptably established framework.
He reminded all that in the course of 2021, the sub-region is expecting elections in the Republics of Benin, Cape Verde and the Gambia and therefore, encouraged all political actors to support a democratic process, refrain from acts that could spark tension and violence by playing within the confines of the law.
Hon. Tunis reported that few weeks ago, he led a parliamentary fact finding mission to Republic of Mali wherein, fruitful discussions were held with all stakeholders in the Malian Transition process and that the discussions has put Mali on right path of democratic rule.
“All we have been able to accomplish would not have been possible, but for the support and patriotism demonstrated by all members ECOWAS Parliament. We face each day, tackle every pressing challenge, and stand proudly as a community parliament because of the fortitude and courage of all. Honorable members of Parliament, I find myself privilege to be surrounded by so great a team and I want to seize another opportunity to thanks you all colleagues”, he said.
On his part, the President of the ECOWAS Commission Jean-Clauude Kassi Brou expressed his profound gratitude to the President and the People of Sierra Leone for the warmly welcome accorded to the ECOWAS Delegation to Sierra Leone. He added that the reception acorded them by the president and also gracing the opening session of the ECOWAS extraordinary session just reaffirms President Julius Maada Bio’s undiluted interest in the regional integration and the value of democracy in the ECOWAS community.
He reiterated that the extraordinary session is convened in order to consider the ECOWAS Parliament’s strategic plan for 2024. He added that the strategic plan of ECOWAS is indeed a proper tool that will lay out the structure and efficiently draw the roadmap of the ECOWAS Parliament. He said the ECOWAS strategic plan is aligned with the development priority of the region, thereby focusing on equal participation in the affairs of the community which is also in line with the ECOWAS vision of creating the ECOWAS people. He concluding that the ECOWAS strategic plan shall focus specifically democracy, peace and security in ensuring that the ECOWAS Community remains to be the most peaceful and stable region.