EASTER MESSAGE: SEEK PATH OF PEACE, WAR FAVOURS NO COUNTRY, BISHOP NWOKOLO COUNSELS RUSSIA, UKRAINE

By Alex Uzoigwe

The raging Russia versus Ukraine war now threatening the global community with an apparent implosion of a third world war has been described as very unfortunate and the bligrant nations counselled to seek the path of peace.

The Bishop on the Niger, the Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo, who gave the advice in his 2022 Easter Message expressed the apprehension that if the situation was not skilfully managed in a good diplomatic way, a devastating third world war might ensue.

He remarked that the situation seems to be tilting towards a third world war as according to him, “several developed war-inclined countries have developed very dangerous warheads that are capable of destroying both the enemies and the producer nations”.
Although the bishop was confident that the

United Nations can prevent a third world war, he said that the organisation however was not effectively doing what it is supposed to do.

“The sanctions they have given to deter Russia from doing further harm to Ukraine is not enough. They are expected to do more”, he emphasized.
For Bishop Nwokolo, war should be avoided at all costs without any justifications, and while underscoring the side effects of war, the bishop said, “But the whole issue summarises that war does not favour any country. The devastation going on in Ukraine now, for instance, is very alarming.
“Many of her citizens are now displaced as thousands of them are now scattered all over Europe, Asia and the Middle East.”
Proffering a solution to the war situation, he said, “What, however, that may help to broker peace between the two migrant nations is nothing more than a round-table talk. It will be a win-win situation; that is, no winner, no vanquished.

“For now, Ukraine is already losing, even though she has some support from other countries that offer her some assistance by helping her to stop Russia from entering her capital. This, for now, is the much she can do. She can’t win the war when her country is already devasted.

“The United Nations is therefore expected to do more than mere sanction against Russia and instead bring the two warring parties to a round table where things may be sorted out and war eventually terminated, and a threatening third-word war adverted”.