Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, has said that the
United Nations is failing in its responsibility to ensure global peace.
Jonathan stated
this at a panel, on the dialogue of civilisations at Rhodes Forum’s 15th
anniversary summit in Greece.
According to
Jonathan, the UN security council charged with the responsibility of
maintaining international peace “has been more effective in opening new
frontiers for conflicts, rather than providing answers to the ones it sought to
resolve”.
He also said
the UN may have succeeded in preventing third world war, but cannot boast of
ensuring global peace.
“That the world
needs peace is a declaration no one ever contests, given what the absence of
peace portends,” Jonathan said.
“In each case,
the UN was helpless in resolving the conflicts.
“That the only
road to a peaceful world is through dialogue is also incontrovertible. What
then raises a valid contention is the argument over the steps taken by leaders
towards realising peace. Are they the right or wrong steps?
“At the end of
World War II, 51 nations came together to form the United Nations on 24
October, 1945. The UN security council was also formed the same day.
“In terms of
carrying out the mandate of preventing a Third World War, we could say the UN
has done exceptionally well up to this moment.
“However, we
cannot say the same thing over its mandate of ensuring world Peace as it is obvious
that the UN has not achieved much in this regard.
“From 1945,
when 51 nations came together and now that the UN has 193 member states, the
world has not known real peace.”
He said Nigeria
and some other African countries by employing intense and purposeful dialogue
have “resolved, as well as prevented, many conflicts and stabilised and
strengthened democracy in many countries in the sub-region.”
He, therefore,
called for a review of the UN’s approach to dialogue.
“Late Fela
Anikulapo-Kuti, a Nigerian philosopher and musician of international repute,
tried to rebrand the UN in his own way, by calling it ‘Disunited Nations.’ He
might have exaggerated. Nonetheless, his grouse was that nations, going through
bitter conflicts were all members of the UN,” he said.
“Yet, the
global body, primarily set up to guarantee world peace, appears not to have
been able to muster the required willpower, to resolve those issues that cause
conflicts, for decades.
“The security
council which is the most powerful UN organ, with “primary responsibility for
the maintenance of international peace and security”, cannot inspire that
confidence, because of the way it is presently configured.
“If anything,
the system, which has remained unreviewed in over half a century, has been more
effective in opening new frontiers for conflicts, rather than providing answers
to the ones it sought to resolve.
“It is
important that all member nations of the UN must have faith in the
organisation, and believe that it is fair and representative enough to protect
them.
“I believe in
the UN as an effective global body that should lead the quest for the peace we
desire. I am also convinced that for the organisation to bring about world
peace, the UN method and approach to dialogue must be reviewed.
Tags
dailypost.ng