Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has expressed his condemnation of Nigeria’s alarming rate of human rights abuses, calling attention to the country’s disturbing record on the global stage.
In a statement released on Tuesday, marking the 2024 Human Rights Day, Obi expressed deep disappointment that Nigeria continues to be notorious for human rights violations, pointing out that the government’s abuse of power and authority against its citizens remains a significant issue.
“I am again adding my voice to that of the global community as we mark Human Rights Day. Human rights, as we understand, is a global desire that demonstrates the inalienable rights to which every human being, of course including every Nigerian, irrespective of tribe, social status, or religion, is entitled,” Obi stated in his message.
He further emphasized the importance of human rights, noting that they form the foundation for peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. Obi then reflected on the state of Nigeria’s human rights record and how the country has failed to progress in this regard. “On a day like this, therefore, we ought to judge for ourselves how we have progressed or retrogressed in respecting the human rights of our citizens,” he said.
While Obi expressed a desire to praise his nation, he acknowledged the stark realities faced daily by Nigerians, which have left him with a deep sense of sadness. He highlighted a range of human rights abuses in Nigeria, such as the abuse of power by politicians, extrajudicial killings by security agencies, and the growing number of arrests of journalists for simply doing their jobs.
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Obi pointed out that Nigeria's ranking as 21st among the nations with the worst human rights records in 2022 and its position as the 15th weakest state on the Fragile State Index for 2023 were disturbing indicators of the country's failure to uphold the rights of its citizens. He also expressed concern about the increasingly hostile environment for journalists in the country, with numerous reports of harassment and arrests of media professionals.
“The gross disrespect for the human rights of the citizens, abuse of power and public offices, extrajudicial arrests and punishments for perceived wrongs, and so many other manifestations of human rights abuse stare us in the face and are very worrisome. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recently reported that it receives more than two million complaints annually regarding human rights abuses across Nigeria,” Obi said. He added that millions of others are unable to voice their grievances or seek justice due to fear and lack of resources.
“Our nation has sadly remained notorious for human rights abuse. We have been ranked 21st among the countries with the worst record for human rights and rule of law violations in the world in 2022. We are also ranked the 15th weakest state out of 177 countries measured on the Fragile State Index for 2023. Aside from continually denying the citizens their right to freedom of speech, we are now among West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists,” Obi lamented.
The former Governor of Anambra State then called on Nigeria’s leaders to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of citizens. He stressed the importance of unity across religious and ethnic divides in the country, calling for a collective effort to protect and respect human rights.
“We must, therefore, discontinue this dangerous path of ruin, which continues to hamper our development. Respect for the rule of law and human rights remains the biggest intangible asset any nation can have, which not only fosters peace in the country but makes it attractive to foreign investors and external organizations,” Obi explained.
Concluding his statement, Obi expressed hope that leaders would start championing the respect for the rights of the people, while urging citizens to look beyond tribal and religious differences and work towards a more unified and respectful society. “By the commemoration of today’s event, I hope we, the leaders, will begin to champion the respect of the rights of our people. I also hope that we, the people, begin to tear down the walls of tribe and religion and begin to appreciate and respect one another as humans,” he added.
