Global peace advocates and international relations experts have renewed calls for urgent reforms of the United Nations (UN) and the establishment of a more democratic global order as key solutions to achieving lasting peace and security across the world.
The demand was made at the weekend in Abuja during the public presentation of a new book, “Towards Effective World Security”, authored by Nigerian scholar and international affairs analyst, Mr. Uche Nwankwo.
Speaking at the event, prominent columnist and Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Owei Lakemfa, in his keynote address titled “Nigeria: Flying Blindly in the Global Space”, warned that the world was dangerously tilting towards more conflict due to increasing intolerance in global politics and an imbalance of power among nations.
“Just a few weeks ago, the world tilted toward a global conflagration. We all could have been endangered. Indeed, we all are endangered,” Lakemfa said. “We are headed for a unipolar world where one superpower dictates the terms, and dissenters are demonized.”
He criticized the UN’s structure, particularly the veto power held by a few nations, as being at odds with its charter which emphasizes the sovereign equality of all member states. “The veto is a violation of Article 2 of the UN Charter,” he asserted, calling for full democratization of the global body.
On Nigeria’s diplomatic challenges, Lakemfa lamented the absence of ambassadors in many foreign missions, likening the country to “a bird flying with one wing” and described the current administration’s foreign policy as flying “blindly in the global space.”
The Publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Sam Amuka, represented by Northern Regional Editor, Soni Daniel, emphasized that peace and security are fundamental to development. He praised the book as a timely intervention capable of guiding international policy discourse.
“Until we have peace in Gaza, Sudan, Somalia, and Ukraine, even the big powers won’t sleep. Global peace is essential not just for the weak but also for the strong,” he said.
Author Uche Nwankwo, reflecting on his lifelong interest in global affairs, said his inspiration dates back to 1957 when he first heard of the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik 1 from his village in Southeast Nigeria.
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Nwankwo called for an end to hostilities. “It is time Russia gave up its war with Ukraine. It has become a global distraction,” he said, stressing that the book advocates for reforms beyond the conflict.
Nwankwo warned that the UN risks becoming obsolete like the League of Nations if structural changes are not implemented to ensure fairness and global cooperation.
Literary critic and book reviewer, Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, in his speech titled “Workable Ways to World Peace”, described the work as visionary and historically grounded. He compared Nwankwo’s proposals to the once-dismissed ideas of Galileo, noting that history often vindicates bold thinkers.
Uzoatu applauded Nwankwo’s idea of replacing the UN General Assembly with a World Assembly that allocates decision-making power based on population, economic strength, and sovereign equality. He called it “a classical march of democracy that will empower the UN to hold every nation accountable.”
Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria, Mersole Mellejor, said the launch coincided with the Philippines’ 127th Independence anniversary, and commended the relevance of the book in today’s context of economic conflicts.
He revealed that the Philippines had submitted its candidature for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council and planned to push for reforms. “The UN has given us 75 years of general peace, but it must evolve to be more representative,” he said.
The event drew participants from diplomatic circles, academia, civil society, and the media, all echoing the same message: for global peace to be realized, the structures governing international relations must be reformed to reflect equality, inclusivity, and justice.
