>> Speeches - Universal Peace Federation (UPF) International Peace Summit  

SPEECH AT THE UNIVERSAL PEACE FEDERATION (UPF) INTERNATIONAL

PEACE SUMMIT HOLDING AT ABUJA JULY 22, 2006,

All Protocols Observed;

Delegates

Ladies and Gentlemen

Thank you for your kind bestowal of the Universal Peace Federation Global Ambassador for peace award on me.

I am told that this award was in recognition of my contribution to the development and sustenance of information technology revolution in Nigeria. In my capacity as one of the pioneer’s Internet Service providers and leading Information Technology Service Providers in Nigeria, the award gives me personal satisfaction for one important reason;

The Middle East conflict is happening within our neighborhood. Daily we watch innocent victims on TV and the internet, we feel the pain of the innocent. All men of goodwill must employ their resourcefulness to bring about an immediate cessation of hostilities and a cease fire.

The principal charter of the United Nations is to prevent mankind from the scourges of war. Since the end of Second World War, international peace has been delicately maintained through a "balance of terror" and later a detente during the cold war.

The ascendance of Reaganomics created the conditions for the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which was followed by the collapse of the Soviet Empire. The Middle East has witnessed several peace initiatives from Camp David to the Road Map of the Clinton Era. This relative Global Peace was shattered by the events of September 11,2001.

9/11, the pull factors of globalization, foistered by internet access, a resurgent China, seeking access to markets and raw materials, the rise of India and its quest for technological dominance, the reassertiveness of Russia, and the repositioning of Iran, seeking geopolitical relevance, are all sources of future global conflicts.

While the pull factors of globalization are integrating civilizations and improving our living conditions, the future conflicts will be defined by the Push factors of globalization namely: competition for natural resources, dominance of civilizations and uneven access to technology. These are the unintended effects of the emerging multi-polarism which might likely sow the seeds of future conflicts.

Historical conflicts have been part of humanity and solutions have been found for most of them under the atmosphere of Dialogue and Consensus. Every person in the world is in one way or another affected when a crisis occurs in any part of the globe.

New players have emerged in the global scene, and the paradigms for solutions to global peace has to shift. The various African Conflicts from Liberia to Congo, from Sao Tome and Principe to Sierra Leone, etc were resolved due to the commitment, resourcefulness and integrity of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Obasanjo. The Bakassi peninsula crisis, for instance, with all its potentials for escalation is been peacefully resolved without any major incidence, because Nigeria under Obasanjo saw the bigger picture of African Brotherhood and then "ceded" a resource rich area at a time when G7 Countries are disputing ownership of Islands in the Pacific of doubtful economic value. In the African spirit, Nigeria under Obasanjo, should constructively engage in finding a peaceful resolution to the Middle East conflict. After all, it is in the African spirit to resolve heritage issues even though Darfur and Somalia still remain sore points in our continent.

The natural disasters of the recent past like Hurricane Katrina and Asian Tsunami involved a substantial part of humanity. The global change in climate due to carbon dioxide emissions affects every part of the world. The simple truth is we are all in the same neighborhood and should be our brother's keepers. Apologies to the gender sensitive seated here today.

The quest for international peace will thus preoccupy mankind and be a worthwhile cause to be championed by all men and women of goodwill.

That the Universal Peace Federation has special consultative status at the UN economic and social council is a worthy recognition of your role in making the world a more peaceful place to live in.

I must commend your development programmes in Nigeria in particular, your micro peace initiatives which focuses on the family, youth and communities without regard to gender and religion; your educational and healthcare assistance programmes are all worthy of commendation. I will continue to assist and lend my voice in the quest for a peaceful world.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we must endeavor to uphold international law and order and work assiduously towards extinguishing the embers of hate and conflict all over the world. We must act now to guarantee a safe and habitable earth for us and our children through a determined choice to co-exist peacefully and utilize the resources of the earth in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Let me also recognize the efforts of the coordinators of this event, for their selfless service to humanity. In particular, Ambassador Olusola's works for peace has been an inspiration to all youths; Mr Alao's organizational efforts simplified the logistic challenge for an event of this magnitude; all other organizers are equally commended.

On behalf of all awardness,

Peace be unto you all. Once again thank you.

Abuja Nigeria July 22, 2006.

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