By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Jos – The International Organization for Peace Building and Social Justice and the Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Development Associations, CONAECDA have urged political leaders not to ignore the issue of social justice as such is the only avenue for having lasting peace in the country.

The groups while commemorating the 2023 World Day for Social Justice insisted that “no nation can prosper without peace and peace comes when there is social justice.

Addressing journalists on Monday in Jos, Plateau State, Ishaya Durkwa, the Executive Director, PSJ, and Suleiman Sukukum the Secretary-General, CONAECDA particularly called for the resettlement of natives who have been uprooted from their homes as the result of insecurity while the aggressors occupy the lands of the natives.

According to Durkwa, “The theme for 2023 World Day for Social Justice is Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for Social Justice… various governance reports indicate the erosion of trust in government and public institutions… The Day provides an opportunity to foster dialogue with the stakeholders on actions needed to strengthen the social contract that has been fractured by rising inequalities, conflicts, and weakened institutions that are meant to protect Nigerians…

“There is injustice everywhere in Nigeria, and it appears that the government whether by commission or omission is either willing but not able, or able but not willing to solve these problems…, the scale of justice is not balanced because while we deradicalize and reintegrate militant groups in which case they are the aggressors their victims are left unattended to.

“Whenever there are anarchy, tension, and crises, the root cause when checked carefully is based on lack of social justice. Social Justice is giving everyone what is due to them and we must of necessity rehabilitate the victims through acts of restorative justice. Whoever emerges as the next leader in the country, should balance the scale of justice, because we cannot continue to play the ostrich in this nation thinking all is well, whereas the nation is imploding… the matter of social justice should not be toyed with, therefore the government should stop politicizing these issues, the only way we can prosper as a people is by restoring humanity to those whose dignity is stripped away…”