Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, on Monday held a special meeting with 12 heads of parliaments from different parts of the world, including Nigeria’s Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki to discuss the issue of security problems in many countries and the resultant mass displacement of people from their traditional abode. The discussants agreed that the issues require global solutions.The meeting which held at the UN headquarters as part of activities scheduled to hold during the 4th United Nations Conference for Parliamentary Heads In New York lasted for over an hour, and was attended by parliamentary heads from Italy, Switzerland, Vietnam, Kuwait, Lithuania and Nigeria, among others.
Senator Saraki who briefed the press after the meeting said Ban Ki Moon told the parliamentary heads that the UN view with seriousness the issue of terrorism, rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons and general insecurity which he said further worsen the cases of poverty, underdevelopment and disrespect for the dignity of human persons.
Saraki further stressed the important role of the Parliament in providing proper oversight and ensuring accountability and openness while enacting laws that will benefit their constituents.
He maintained that peace, democracy and the rule of law are central to ensuring sustainable development, and reiterated his optimism that the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations would be more successful than the Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs) because of the multi-stakeholder participatory approach that the comity of nations through the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) are adopting.
The Senate President said he came out of the meeting with Ban Ki Moon more energized to get the much needed support for the IDPs and those affected by terrorism in the North Eastern part of his home country, Nigeria.
He further restated his pledge that when he gets back home, the 8th Senate which he heads, will continue to work to provide a legislative framework that will help to rebuild, rehabilitate and reconstruct the violence-ravaged part of the country.
Saraki who will address the plenary of the world conference on Wednesday is also billed to hold bilateral meetings with heads of parliaments of Britain, Germany and France.
Meanwhile, students of the University of Lagos yesterday booed Saraki for failing to attend a youth submit organized to commemorate the 2015 edition of the United Nations International Youth Day.
