President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has called on the international community to organise a global conference aimed at galvanising international resources to mitigate the devastation and the humanitarian situation in the North East of the Country as well as the continuous threat posed by the Boko Haram terrorists.
Saraki on Thursday led a National Assembly delegation to the 137th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly taking place in St. Petersburg, Russia, with the theme: “Promoting Cultural Pluralism and Peace through Inter-faith and Inter-ethnic Dialogue.”
Saraki who gave the call in his speech at the ongoing IPU meeting, said the need for international effort in mitigating the sufferings of victims and rebuilding affected cities and communities in the region remains as the Federal Government alone cannot bear the burden of the massive resources required to resettle the people at this time.
He stated that extremism and group radicalisation can only be curbed when societies are made prosperous.
“We have reached an advanced stage in plans for a development commission to tackle the crisis in the North East, incidentally the region with the highest poverty rate in the country,” Saraki said. “We have also made economic growth and greater investment the core of our legislative agenda.”
“The sooner we deliver economic reforms and greater prosperity to all Nigerians, the sooner we can achieve a more inclusive society, and minimise societal divisions and grievances.
“Poverty, hunger and marginalisation can provide a breeding ground for extremism; when we ensure a safe and prosperous society, we prevent the radicalisation of vulnerable groups.”
“While we recognise that there is a lot more we can do, it is pertinent to note that we cannot do it alone. We are therefore calling for an international conference on North-East Nigeria and the Boko Haram threat, similar to those convened in London on Somalia and Syria,” he stated.
