Let’s have Responsible Adults in the Room By Ganiu Okunnu
As I write this piece, my eyes stare at the gory news of deaths and destruction caused by airstrikes, missiles and drone strikes on innocent people in Iranian, Israeli, Russian and Ukrainian cities. What have we done wrong? Where are international organisations and laws and when will these end? These are questions probably on the minds and lips of innocent victims of these unprovoked and endless destruction taking place in these affected cities and other places experiencing aggravated conflicts.
How did the world get to this stage of ceaseless invasions, land annexations, killings and brutality? A simple answer: emergence of weak-minded, selfish, dishonest and compromised childish leaders who perceive the world as the playground and every item in the world as a toy. Senseless and short-sighted lots.
When Yanis Varoufakis, world-famous economist and former Greek Minister of Finance authored his book, Adults in the Room: My Battles With Europe’s Deep Establishment, he never thought world leadership would descend to this low depth where international laws would be worthless and global leaders would recklessly engage in acts capable of bringing destruction on the world they proclaim to protect. Though western Europe at the time had shown signs of being under the control of vampires marauding as political and financial leaders. These leaders in charge of political and financial institutions had inflicted total havoc on many European countries including Greece. They rape, loot and send millions of people to depth of poverty and deaths as confirmed reports emerge of people becoming homeless, destitute and many committing suicide. Nevertheless, there existed some thin layers of pretentious respect for international laws and values until recently.
Since the beginning of the 2ist century, the world has continued to witness the emergence of some individuals with despicable characters as leaders in the world, particularly, western Europe and America. These individuals due to their poor decision making and great influence of powerful political lobbying groups and organisations, have been making a world a dangerous place to live with their policies and actions. Within the span of twenty five years, the world has witnessed deadly conflicts. The 21st century has seen a rise in the number of countries involved in conflicts, with more internationalized conflicts and a greater number of non-state actors participating. From 9/11 attack to invasion of Afghanistan, Iraqi invasion, Darfur Conflict, Yemeni civil war, Russian-Ukrainian war, numeorus middle east conflicts (particularly the ongoing Gaza War) and Iran-Israel War.
While these conflicts occur in different parts of the world, a striking feature is the direct and subtle involvements of western leaders and their agents in theses hostilities. Facts reveal that while these leaders and their agents in some instances conceived these hostilities, at other times, they provide support for the actors in these hostilities to perpetrate and continue with their crimes by rendering international institutions powerless through their political influence.
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According to Siri Aas Rustad, Research Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and the lead writer of PRIO’s Conflict Trends: A Global Overview report, violence in the world is at an all-time high since the end of the Cold War. The Report indicates dramatic increase in battle deaths driven by three conflicts: civil war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the bombing of Gaza. 2023 which culminated into an overall 122,000 battle deaths, with over 71,000 people killed in Ukraine and some 23,000 killed in Gaza in less than three months of 2023. These deaths are direct impacts of some selected conflicts, what about indirect and unnoticed impacts.
According to Global Peace Index, war has caused humanity so much destruction since the dawn of 21st century. Apart from casualties on the battle fields and home, these conflicts have had devastating impacts on global economy. According to the Peace Index Report, hostilities have caused a 13% loss to global GDP, with the world losing $17.5 trillion in 2022. These economic losses and huge defence spending by countries involved in conflicts are essential resources needed to facilitate a robust and sustainable global economy. All lost to hostilities!
Apart from economic losses, conflicts have led to enormous humanitarian losses. Conflicts in the 21st century have resulted in significant humanitarian losses, including widespread global displacement, food insecurity, and attacks on civilians and essential infrastructure. These conflicts have also led to increased violence against humanitarian workers, media practitioners and increased detention of individuals, raising concerns about the protection of basic rights.
All these are consequences of reckless and destructive actions and policies of most Western leaders and their allies across the world. While they deceptively proclaim peace in the public sphere, they are actively sponsoring violence, insecurity, insurrections and engineering global deadly conflicts. They seek global dominance and control of all global resources for themselves and their political sponsors.
They are war criminals, yes, that is what they are. They are warmongers using conflicts as means to sell weapons and provide opportunities for defence production companies. They are anarchists promoting state of chaos to seek justification for territorial expansion and acquisition of other national resources. They and their hypocritical media organisations spread lies and discriminatory viewpoints to enslave their citizens and advance their agenda. They have maimed, raped, destroyed and devoured everything nature has freely given to us.
The world is tired of bombs wreaking havoc on defenseless civilians, destruction of nations, unprovoked attacks and global insecurity. The ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war could have been averted if only we had responsible and honest leaders.
Similarly, there was no need for the current unprovoked Israeli and American attacks on Iran, if there were genuine talks aimed at resolving conflicts and respects for international peace. The current set of leaders in the White House, 10 Downing Street, The Élysée Palace, Kremlin, Beijing and United Nations Security Council is disappointing and has contributed to global deaths and destruction. We need wise adults to take charge of all the aforelisted powerful political centres
We need to advance alternative thoughts and institutions rather than expecting positive results from the present ones. The present international institutions under the control of United Nations is polluted and controlled by these vampires who are happy with deaths and destruction. Their calls for peace and pretentious clamour for diplomacy are just a mask that easily falls off under slight scrutiny. It is time to have another set of honest, independent-minded and adult-oriented leaders who are conscious of consequences of their actions.
Here’s wishing the world God’s Protection and Peace.
Dr Ganiu Okunnu, Strategic Communication Scholar, based at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, FCMS, of the Lagos State University, LASU
