October 22, (THEWILL) – Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed concern over a potential World War if the increasing rate of global conflicts is not tamed.
Speaking in Abuja, on Monday, at the opening ceremony of a four-day International Conference of the African Biblical Leadership Initiative, Obasanjo cited a Global Peace Index 2024, report which revealed 58 wars involving 92 countries currently ongoing.
“As of June this year, there were 56 conflicts—the most since World War II—with 92 countries involved in these conflicts beyond their borders”, the report noted.
The former President called on religious leaders to continue praying for peace and unity across nations.
“For me, we have a problem in the world. Experts said we have 58 wars going on in the world and 92 countries involved directly or indirectly. That is half of the countries in the world, yet they say we have no third world war when half of the countries are directly or indirectly involved”, Obasanjo said.
The ex-president, while admonishing leaders to embrace value-based leadership rooted in honesty, integrity and selflessness, said the world is presently facing a leadership crisis; warning that all the attributes and principles of leadership would amount to nothing without courage.
Describing Gowon, who recently turned 90 as Nigeria’s Churchill, Obasanjo argued that many leaders are not appreciated by their people while alive. Gowon was Nigeria’s head of state from 1966 to 1975, ruling during the controversial Civil War.
