Akande, a former governor of Osun State and the first interim national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), offered the praise during a courtesy call over the weekend from those promoting the new peace initiative, which was spearheaded by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
Under Kalu's leadership, all South-East legislators have launched the innovative PISE-P program.
Chief Bisi Akande and Hon. Benjamin Kalu had a meeting as part of the Peace in South-East Project (PISE-P).
The project, which has the backing of the National Assembly's leadership, aims to address the sociological and security issues in the South-East by implementing non-kinetic solutions, enhancing infrastructure, and integrating the region into the national agenda.Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, the National Assembly's leadership, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the business community, the media, traditional institutions, and several other well-known Nigerians nationwide have all endorsed the proposal thus far.
In his speech, Akande warned that the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will suffer if the insecurity in the South-East region was not addressed.
As part of the Peace in South-East Project, Hon. Benjamin Kalu meets with Chief Bisi Akande and his team (PISE-P).
The former governor, who addressed Kalu as his son, applauded the deputy speaker for taking the initiative and emphasized the need for an immediate response to the threat of violence and instability in the nation.In addition to backing the concept, the elder statesman promised to personally present the idea to President Bola Tinubu.
The Etsu Nupe and Hon. Benjamin Kalu meet as part of the Peace in South-East Project (PISE-P).
The initiative is determined to use its eight pillars—education, agriculture, commerce/industry, infrastructure development, culture and tourism, sports/entertainment, governance/leadership, and reconciliation/rehabilitation/reintegration—to chart a new course for the people of the South-East, according to Deputy Speaker Kalu, who led the PISE-P delegation earlier.In a related development, HRH Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe, has also endorsed the proposal.
As part of the Peace in South-East Project, Hon. Benjamin Kalu and his delegation meet with Etsu Nupe HRH Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar (PISE-P).
When the PISE-P delegation, which was also led by the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, paid him a courtesy call over the weekend, he offered his support.Meanwhile, on December 29, 2023, in the Bende local government area of Abia State, the new peace effort is anticipated to be fully unveiled.