A 2019 governorship aspirant in Kwara State, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Ajia, has said the proclivity of people in parts of the country to resort to self help during communal clashes would reduce when they have confidence in the nation’s judicial system.
Ajia also urged Nigerians to rally round the call for independence of some critical institutions including the Judiciary, Electoral Commission, the Police and other Law enforcement agencies for them to be more effective and accountable.
He spoke during the Benue Pride Award 2021 organized by Patno Global Ideas, which was held at the Presidential Merit House, Maitama, Abuja.
Ajia, who is also the President and Chief Executive Officer of FUNAB Group of Companies, said Nigeria would metamorphose from a developing nation to a developed nation when judicial system is reliable and timely.
He called for effective and digitized administration of criminal justice system using technological advancement, expressing the hope that it would also reduce injustice in the land.
“Achieving justice and peace for National Development will require the administration of law to create a state of security and order, free of civil disturbance to improve the social welfare of her people.
“In other words, it is very important for us to understand the sequence to a developed society. Justice is a prerequisite for Peace, and Peace is a prerequisite for development.
“Therefore, it is impossible to have development in a society devoid of peace. Peace is the bedrock for national development as it creates an ambience of National unity, positive thinking and collaboration for the common good of all.
“As a people, we must not see justice as a thing that must come from the government or authorities alone, justice must become part of our daily life, attitudes and actions.
“We must support the independence of our institutions such as the Judiciary, Electoral Commission, the Police and other Law enforcement agencies as this will enable them to be more effective and accountable to the people.
“The administration of criminal justice system should be more effective and digitized to take advantage of technological advancements. This would reduce injustice even within our justice system. The process by which Nigeria can metamorphose from a developing nation to a developed nation is by ensuring our judicial system is reliable, timely and effective.
“When the people have hope and confidence in the judicial system, they would no longer take the law into their hands and communal crisis would be reduced or not allowed to degenerate into ethnic crisis that we witnessed in some parts of the country”, Ajia said.
While bemoaning incessant communal clashes in Benue State, the former gubernatorial aspirant recommended political solutions to the protracted security challenge in the state.
Ajia said, “Today, Benue State that is the food basket of the Nation is witnessing low agricultural production due to lingering communal crisis. I urge all indigenes and dwellers in the State to embrace peace in order to build our local economy and the national development.
“I wish to use this medium to urge all the political actors, traditional rulers, religious leaders and my fellow young Benue indigenes to rise up to the current security challenges preventing the state from progressing to compete with other states of the federation.
“I strongly recommend political solutions to some of the lingering security issues. There is need for equity, fairness and justice in the political space so as to enhance unity amongst the co-existing ethnic groups within the state”.
