The General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Pastor Sam Aboyeji has advised the government and other people in a leadership position to ensure equitable justice in their dealings, as no nation progresses without justice.
Aboyeji said this at the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN)13th Founders’ Day annual lecture and awards ceremony with the theme: ‘Justice: Catalyst for a Progressive Nigeria,’ which was held at Nigeria Institute in International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos.
He said that the leadership of Nigeria must take the right step, adding that there would be no progress without justice.
“Justice is indeed an essential ingredient to hold the nation together.
“God is love and we are called to live in line with Justice, fairness and equity.”
He commended BSN for its efforts in the translation of the Bible, adding that the great commission by Christ to the church can only be carried out when Christians/Churches queue behind the vision of BSN.
Earlier in his speech, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the event by the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Abolaji Dada, said no society could achieve its full potential and the desired level of development without putting in place and nurturing a system that guarantees justice and fairness to all, irrespective of social and economic status.
Also speaking at the event, Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) said that the biblical concept of justice is the foundation of the system of justice in the legal system of Nigeria which includes: learning to do right, seek justice, defend the oppressed, plead the cause for the fatherless and widow among others.
He said regrettably, Nigeria as a nation has distanced itself from this reality which has resulted in the mess the country finds itself today.
He added that the righteous cares about justice for the poor, but the wicked has no such concern, adding that wicked leaders have no concern for justice for the poor who are only concerned about themselves.
He lamented the billions of naira the government budgets for arms and ammunition, overlooking the area of injustice.
“Under the 2021 budget, the Federal Government budgeted N840 billion for the Ministry of Defence and the budget for Defence has been increasing.
“In a budget of few surprises tagged: ‘Budget of economic recovery and resilience,’ the Ministry of Defence more than four years in a row has taken the lead with a proposed allocation of N840 billion while Police and Education got N441.39 billion and N554.10 billion respectively.