Commissioners of International Human Rights Commission (IHRC), Geneva (Nigeria Committee), Amb. Austin Oguejiofor, former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, and former Kaduna State governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, have called on the Federal Government to show more respect for the rights of Nigerian citizens to hold opinions and associate with each other.
They spoke through a joint statement of the organization released in Abuja, frowned at what they termed some disturbing occurrences in the polity as well as the conduct of some security officers who had been overzealous in carrying out their activities.
The statement signed by Dr. Kenneth Anozie, IHRC spokesman, said: “This is quite unacceptable, and the Federal Government needs to take necessary steps to reassure the citizens that their rights are well protected.”
It maintained that the recent indictment of the Nigeria state, especially by Sen. Menendez of the United States Senate, was quite disturbing and did not portray the image of the country in good light.
“We believe that in a democracy as we currently practice it in Nigeria, rights of citizens to hold opinions, associate, worship and own properties as well as to life must be guaranteed at all times. These are what we believe are the minimum requirements in any democracy.
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“Section 1 of the Constitution of Nigeria, requires that all Nigerians are equal before the law and have the same rights, and Section 39 (1) guarantees all citizens the inalienable rights to hold opinions and to freedom of expression.”
It would be recalled that the International Human Rights Commission, Geneva had declared December 10 every year as Human Rights Day. This year’s theme is ‘Know Your Rights’
As part of the celebration, the Nigeria Committee of IHRC held a rally to draw the attention of the Nigerian people to their constitutional rights to life, to own properties, to hold opinion, and to associate as well as to worship anyhow they deem fit.
In an address during the event, the IHRC envoy to Nigeria and National Coordinator, Amb. Amadi Darlington C, emphasised the need for all Nigerian citizens to be aware of their basic rights and report any security agency or individual who infringes on their rights.
“As this year’s theme connotes, which is ” Know Your Rights,”, it is very important that all Nigerians understand the basic rights which they are entitled to under the laws and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Amadi stressed.
The International Human Rights Commission, Geneva, an affiliate of the United Nations, adopted all the fundamental human rights as declared by UNHRC as the minimum requirements for nations and citizens to coexist peacefully, among themselves and within themselves.
