Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has drawn attention to Nigeria’s glaring social injustices, citing recent global rankings that underscore the nation’s challenges.
In a series of statements posted on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), Obi highlighted Nigeria’s low standing in global indices measuring social justice and adherence to the rule of law.
Addressing the issue on the occasion of the World Day of Social Justice, Obi pointed out that Nigeria currently ranks 158 out of 190 countries globally for social justice. Also, following the 2023 Global Rule of Law Index released by the World Justice Project, he said that the nation ranks 120 out of 142 countries for adherence to the Rule of Law.
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Obi, who previously served as the governor of Anambra State, emphasized the deep-seated social divisions within Nigeria, particularly along tribal and religious lines, contributing to the country’s social injustice. He referenced a 2022 report by the Africa Polling Institute, which indicated a weak social cohesion index of 39.6%.
He said, “Today, I join the global community in commemorating the World Day of Social Justice. Social justice entails that everyone, no matter their status in society deserves equal economic, political, and social rights and opportunities.
“This day presents us with the opportunity for sober reflections, especially about us, the leaders, whose actions and inactions have far-reaching impacts on the people we lead. We must understand today that the people must be at the centre of governance.”
Obi said, “In our nation, social justice demands that we offer equal access to education, health, well-being, and opportunities for advancement to every Nigerian irrespective of ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, or social status.
“As I have always maintained, we must build a nation where people’s talents, skills, and hard work will match their opportunities in life, irrespective of their station in society. Regrettably, though, social injustice has continued to plague Nigerian society.
“With Nigeria ranking low in social justice, we must identify and tackle this abnormality in the nation. Social injustice is pronounced in Nigeria, owing primarily to the obvious disunity among the Nigerian people.
“The 2023 Global Rule of Law Index, released by the World Justice Project, ranked Nigeria 120 out of 142 countries.
“With Nigerians facing many complex challenges ranging from insecurity, poverty, unemployment, inflation, and so on, the government needs to take urgent steps to ameliorate the burdens borne by the masses by ensuring that they come up with people-oriented policies that will help, protect, and encourage the masses, especially the less privileged.
“By so doing, we will ensure that every Nigerian gets an equal opportunity to live decently, fully explore their potential, and make a meaningful impact in society. Nigeria desperately needs to evolve rapidly into a fair society.”