By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Nigeria’s Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki was full of jubilation as he led Nigeria delegation to the 135th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) where Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya (APC Kano South) emerged as the vice-president of international body for Africa.
The assembly which sat in Geneva-Switzerland had as its theme, “The Role of Parliaments in Protecting Human Rights of Citizens.”
Sources at the assembly quoted a Nigerian’s delegate as saying that the victory of Nigeria under the leadership of Senator Saraki to the assembly is a sign of good things to Nigeria as he presides over the Senate.
He added that every Nigerian present was proud to be there especially when the citation of Senator Gaya was being read. Reports said that Kano and other cities in was throne to wild jubilation as news was broken.
Saraki who is a member of the Governing Board of the IPU, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, delivered a speech to the Assembly, partake in debate, meet with the leadership Council of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves and Nigerians in Diaspora (NID) and held meetings with other delegations at the sidelines.
Some of the issues debated during the session were: the draft resolution on The freedom of women to participate in political processes fully, safely and without interference: Building partnerships between men and women to achieve this objective, Human Rights abuses as precursors of conflict: Parliaments as early responders, expert hearing in the role of parliaments in preventing outside interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states and HIV/AIDS and maternal, newborn and Child health.
Other delegates to the event taking place between 23rd – 27th October, 2016, include the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who is Deputy Leader of Delegation, Hon. Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff, Senators Bayaro Usman Nafada, Kabiru Gaya, Rafiu Ibrahim and Stella Oduah.
Hon. Samuel Ikon, Hon. Raphael Nnanna, Igbokwe, Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata and Hon. Funke Adedoyin are attending from the Green Chambers while Advisers on the team are Sen. Duro Faseyi and Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki.
Officials of the National Assembly in the team are the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. M.A. Sani-Omolori, Secretary Finance and Accounts, Alhaji Lasisi Bukoye, Clerk to the Senate, Nelson Ayewoh, Secretary to the National Group, Mrs Rabi A. Audu, Director/Secretary to the Delegation, Lawal A. Garba, Director Special Duties, Ms. Iliya Navati, Clerk Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Okoh Bernard Uzeme, Clerk House Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Relations. Mrs Caroline Asan and the CAO of IPU Desk, Mr. Augustine Eseke.
Also participating in the event are the Special Assistant, Partnership/NGO to the Senate President, Innocent Onah and Special Assistant to the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Madaki, among others.
The delegation is expected back in the country on Thursday.
