By Mohammed Yangida Lafi a
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), has called on Nigerians to come together to address the nation’ social injustice with a view to ensuring peace and national development. He made the call yesterday in Keffi , Nasarawa state, while declaring open the 2nd Annual International Conference with the theme “Islam, Social Justice and Sustainable Development in Nigeria” organised by the faculty of Islamic Studies, Nasarawa state University, Keffi . Abubakar, whose speech was read by the former Minister of Finance, Alhaji Ismail Usman, urged Islamic scholars to
provide workable solutions to the problems of social injustice in the country, so that peace and security coul;d be guaranteed. He identifi ed some of the social injustices perpetrated in the country to include bribery and corruption, tribalism, nepotism, discrimination, poverty, youth restiveness and poor education quality, among others.
According to him, “this conference should ensure that issues on social justice and sustainable development in the glorious Qur’an and Sunnah that will move Nigeria forward are brought to lime light”. He said social injustice, when properly addressed, would be transformed the country into a peaceful nation. He, therefore, urged the conference to fi nd out the real causes of social injustice in the country and fi nd workable solutions to such problems. Earlier, Dr.Abdullahi Adamu Suliaman, the Head of Department, Islamic Studies, said that the conference was organised in order to look at issues and provide solutions to challenges of social justice and sustainable development in the country. He said a total of 176 abstracts (125 in English and 51 Arabic) were received and printed in e-book of abstract and 80 papers (54 in English and 26 in Arabic).