Half of money spent on wars could be used to tackle humanitarian crises: Ex-Nigeria prez

Half of the money spent on fighting wars could help in getting rid of diseases and humanitarian crises, Nigeria's former president Olusegun Obasanjo said tonight and urged the international community to work towards ensuring enduring peace.
Obasanjo, who headed a military government in the 1970s and was Nigeria's first president when civilian rule was restored in 1999, made the remarks during an ongoing international conference-cum-cultural festival of spiritual organisation Brahma Kumaris at its headquarters near Mount Abu.
The 80-year-old influential Nigerian leader, speaking as the chief guest, stressed that God has created enough for the needs of every citizen of the world but not enough for the greed of everyone.

"And what makes the world devoid of peace and happiness is the greed of all of us," he told a gathering of thousands during the session titled 'God's Plan: Rajyoga for World Peace, Health and Happiness'.
He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that 44 of the countries in Africa have humanitarian crisis, while another 11 are under the grip of epidemic or diseases.
"Now that is 55 -- the total number of countries in Africa. That is, humanitarian crisis or epidemic one for each country in Africa. With such atrocious condition, there can be no happiness. And yet, God has created Africa, Asia and in fact the entire world to be embraced with peace, joy and happiness," he said.

"Can we get rid of humanitarian crises? Can we get rid of epidemics and outbreak of diseases?" the former military ruler said, adding that, "Of course, we can!"

"Half of the amount of money that is spent by the international community on fighting wars, or necessary wars, can be spent to get rid of diseases and humanitarian crises. This is my message to the world and this my message to you.
"We, starting with ourselves, can be our source for dispensing peace and happiness in the world. May god help us to be able to do that," Obasanjo said.
Earlier during the international conference, which kicked off yesterday and would continue till Tuesday, the Brahma Kumaris' chief administrator Dadi Janki was honoured with the 'Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Vishwa Shanti Puraskar' (Dr A P J Abdul Kalam World Peace Award) by a Dubai-based non-governmental organisation (NGO).

The 102-year-old spiritual leader was awarded by the All India Council of Human Rights for her contributions towards propagating world peace, social service besides connecting people through spirituality.