The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has stressed the importance of non-kinetic approaches in tackling insecurity in the South East region.
He said social infrastructure improvement and youth empowerment have the potential to address prevalent issues.
During a visit from the Resident Program Director of the International Republican Institute (IRI), Santiago Stocker, Kalu emphasized the urgency of initiatives like the “Peace in South East Project (PISE)” in curbing insecurity in the region.
He urged a shift towards understanding the root causes of identity crises, infrastructure deficiencies, and sociological needs, emphasizing the impact of inadequate infrastructure on societal frustration and national cohesion.
Kalu suggested legislative intervention to implement non-kinetic solutions, advocating for support towards projects aimed at peacebuilding, community development, and empowerment within the region. He also encouraged non-state actors contributing to insecurity to form political parties as a means to project their demands constructively.
Furthermore, Kalu assured the IRI Director of Parliament’s commitment to revisiting rejected gender bills for increased female representation in the legislative process. He commended the IRI’s efforts in gender-based advocacy.
Stocker, the Resident Program Director at IRI, highlighted their organization’s focus on identity-based conflicts in conflict-prone areas such as the South East, North Central, and North West regions.
Their mission involves engaging stakeholders to gather information and prioritize issues, aiding political parties and officials in formulating policies to address these conflicts.
Stocker shared their commitment to providing informed reports to Kalu and other stakeholders to support effective policymaking and conflict resolution.
