With the hostilities across the globe, including the recent bout between Israel and Iran, it seems like the threat of World War III looms with each passing year, leaving the state of Africa’s future in question. While some think Africa would be negatively affected, Ben Murray-Bruce projected that Nigeria, would be in an advantageous position.
- Global tensions are heightened by conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, and strategic actions by major world powers.
- Former Nigerian senator Ben Murray-Bruce predicts the inevitability of World War III due to nuclear proliferation and volatile leadership.
- He emphasizes Africa’s non-involvement due to its peaceful diplomatic stance and lack of territorial ambition.
Geopolitical fault lines are spreading as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and rising tensions among global giants such as the United States, Russia, China, and Iran.
The prospect of these sparks igniting a worldwide conflagration, possibly World War III, is no longer the stuff of dystopian fiction.
Adding weight to this concern is a bold statement by Ben Murray-Bruce, founder of Silverbird Group and former Nigerian senator, as reported by the Punch.
In a recent interview with Global Affairs Expert Dane Waters, Murray-Bruce warned that another world war is “inevitable,” citing the surge in nuclear armaments and the alarming presence of “trigger-happy” leaders at the helm of powerful nations.
“We’re in big trouble and as long as we have the kind of leaders we have in the world today, I see World War Three coming and it’s going to be terrible,” he stated.
The Middle East remains a major hotspot for conflict.
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The continuing battle in Gaza, Israeli-Iranian tensions, and the involvement of global forces on opposite sides of these wars all increase the risks.
Add to that China’s strategic military posture in the South China Sea and Russia’s ongoing conflict against Ukraine, and the circumstances for a larger, deadlier conflict look ominously ripe.
Murray-Bruce referenced historical events, stating, “I think we are in trouble. I think there’s too much violence in the world today. I think access to weapons is easy.
I think we have a lot of trigger-happy leaders across the world, and because they are trigger-happy, they don’t care.
He added, “We have a lot of despots and crazy people. So, war is inevitable. It goes back to like 1945, 1939, 1917.
First world war, second world war, Korean war, Vietnam war. “I think there are many crazy people in the world, and as long as we elect crazy people into leadership positions, this is what we’re going to have because it’s the leaders that cause the war, not the people.”
Nigeria’s Projection from Ben Murray-Bruce in the face of a third World War
Despite this grim prognosis, Murray-Bruce has a rather optimistic view of Africa, particularly Nigeria.
He argues that, while World War III might devastate most of the industrialized world, countries such as Nigeria may be spared the consequences.
His explanation is twofold: Africa’s overall lack of nuclear ambitions and its largely benign diplomatic posture.
“The beauty of World War III is that it’s not going to affect Africa. Africa will be spared. You guys are going to fight all across the world, but we are going to be safe in Nigeria,” Murray-Bruce stated.
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“Nobody is going to be fighting in Nigeria because we have no territorial ambitions, we have no desire to acquire nuclear weapons, we don’t want to fight anybody, we’re friends with all our West African neighbours,” he added.
He also suggested that Nigeria might be able to accept displaced people from the West after a world war, but only under stringent visa requirements.
“So yeah, there’s going to be a World War III, the rest of the world will be destroyed, and we’ll be happy to welcome Americans, Israelis, and Iranians to Nigeria,” he said.
“And we’ll make sure you all have your visas to come here because we don’t want you to come as immigrants, and we don’t want to treat you very badly when you come here, but we’re going to treat you well when you come visit us in Nigeria,” he added.
