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The Civil Liberties Organisartion (CLO) has been watching with keen interest, the
administration of President Goodluck Jonathan since May 29, 2012. After due,
thorough and unbiased examination of the President’s one year in office, CLO
makes bold to state as follows:-
1. That in line with Section 16 of the 1999 Constitution, the major objective of
government is to; among others provide security for the lives and property of the
citizens as well as guarantee their welfare. Within the first year in office of President
Goodluck Jonathan, security of lives and property of the citizens and residents –
alike have been gravely threatened and eroded while poverty, hunger, homelessness
and provision of social amenities have become the order of the day.
2. Respect for Human Rights, Due Process & the Rule of Law:-
One major plank of democracy and democratic governance is respect for human
rights, due process and the rule of law. In the last one year as in the previous
administrations since 1999, human rights of the citizens, rule of law and due
process have been grossly violated with impunity by both state and non state
actors. Only a negligible few of the perpetrators have been brought to book.
Popular instances include but not limited to:-
• The use of excessive force against armless protesters in the aftermath of the
January uprising against the unconscionable increase of pump price of fuel in which
over 26 Nigerians were killed and over 200 detained nationwide by security agents
and thugs,
• Detention of former ASUU president and Chairman of Joint Action Front
(JAF), Dr. Dipo Fashina, Abiodun Aremu, Mrs. Gianiat Fawehinmi, widow of late
Gani Fawehinmi etc.
• Use of tear gas and force to disperse protest by elder statesmen in Lagos
who rose to protest the criminal increase in pump price of fuel led by Prof Ben
Nwabueze and Tunji Braithwaite.
• Disobedience to the Minimum Wage Law by the government and consequent
arrest, detention and atrocious trial of labour activists as in the case of
• Comrade Osmond Ugwu, the chair of CLO, Enugu state and leader of Enugu
Workers’ Forum and Ralph Elobuike by the Enugu state governor, Sullivan Chime.
• Unlawful arrest, trial and remand at the Enugu prisons of Comrade for daring
to protest governor’s highhandedness.
• In Lagos state, public health institutions-hospitals both federal and state
owned- have been closed down because of government treachery and violation of
agreement. Lives are lost in their tens daily without hope to resolution in sight.
• As at today most governments have refused to obey the Minimum Wage Law
etc.
3. Prisons Conditions & the state of Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs). In April,
2011, former Minister of Interior, Navy Capt Iheanacho (rtd) told journalists in
Kaduna, Kaduna state, at the wake of the jail break in the city that of the 46 prison
population in Nigeria, Awaiting Trial Persons constitute 30,000. In the period under
review, government has done practically nothing to address the ugly situation as
ATPs cases still populate our prisons in spite of huge sums of money alleged to
have been voted and spent in the area. The debilitating conditions of the prisons are
still case of great concern to the CLO and human rights conscious Nigerians.
4. Extra-Judicial cases, police extortion and impunities. Under the same
period, despite continuous change of the baton in the office of the Inspector General
of Police, cases of extra-Judicial executions, extortion of the citizens despite the
closure of road blocks, unlawful arrest, detention and torture of victims and
sustenance of dirty and over-crowding cells have remained the same across the
country. These are in total contravention of the 1999 Constitution, the African
Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the UN Declaration of Human Rights and
numerous human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory.
5. The Deplorable treatment of Nigerians in foreign land without government’s
intervention and concern. Many Nigerians who live in foreign lands whose rights
have been immensely infringed upon and whose complaints have been brought
before previous as well as this regime have been utterly disregarded and not given
attention at all.
They include:
• The case of Joseph Adumukwe who was roasted by the Gabonese police and
forcefully deported to Nigeria in 2008. We have raised his issue before this and
previous governments but none has listened to our complaints and done anything to
bring justice to the victim now languishing without help in Lagos.
• Paul Moyo in Germany whose life is in grave danger on the threat of his
former girl friend with the German authorities taking sides with his girl friend.
Jonathan’s and previous Governments has turned deaf ears to his complaints and
cry for justice.
• Simeon Adebayor whose trip was irreligiously cut short in Holland on his way
to Spain and be deported to Nigeria. All complaints to the government have not
motivated government’s intervention.
6. Corruption:- Like its predecessors including their Master General Olusegun
Obasanjo who is today crying wolves, Jonathan administration, to summarise the
issue, has turned deaf ears to the cries against corruption by people in his
government and others who are said to be ‘’untouchables’’ in Nigeria. The greatest
problem Nigeria has as a country, as at today, is Corruption, followed by the abuse
of the rule of law and due process.
• None of the reports of the various probes commissioned by both the
executive and legislative arms of the government have implemented.
• Major culprits in the corruption allegations, mostly politicians and their
relations and associates have not been prosecuted or brought to book by the
government.
7. Mass Unemployment:- The ugly state of the teeming youth especially
graduates that are turned out yearly from tertiary institutions in and outside Nigeria
without jobs is a big dent on the government. Only the relations, friends and
associates of those in power and leaders of the ruling party or parties are
beneficiaries of the few spaces available for employment. In most cases, vacancies
are no longer advertised and where they are, are only to fulfil all righteousness.
Employment are bought and sold in Nigeria, without emphasis even on
qualifications but on who is related to who and who know who syndrome. This has
greatly assisted increase in social crises and unrest.
8. Energy/Power failure: Power which is central to development and investment
has continued to be a thing of great concern because the current government like
its predecessors lack the will power to deal with the corruption in the sector as in all
other sectors. Nigeria is still a generator run economy without hope in sight as
always promised. The situation has become more serious and disturbing in the last
few months.
9. Lastly, more than before, the educational sector has collapsed, Nigerians
now feed from the dustbins as prophesied by fugitive Umaru Dikko in the 1980s and
Nigerians walk the streets, stay in their offices, markets, schools and homes in fear
of insecurity to their lives and property.
OUR POSITION
Nigerians must prepare to rescue their society from the corrupt, visionless, inhuman
and unjust politicians before it is too late. No government has a right to victimise,
traumatise, loot, plunder and cage its citizens and society as Nigerian system has
done and continued to do. Rights are not given, they are fought for. We must rise up
now and reclaim our good land-flowing with ‘’milk and honey”.
God bless Nigeria!
Comrade, Ibuchukwu Ohabuenyi Ezike.
Executive Director.
Civil Liberties Organisation.
08037875414 & 08027222409.
ibuchialuta@yahoo.com.
administration of President Goodluck Jonathan since May 29, 2012. After due,
thorough and unbiased examination of the President’s one year in office, CLO
makes bold to state as follows:-
1. That in line with Section 16 of the 1999 Constitution, the major objective of
government is to; among others provide security for the lives and property of the
citizens as well as guarantee their welfare. Within the first year in office of President
Goodluck Jonathan, security of lives and property of the citizens and residents –
alike have been gravely threatened and eroded while poverty, hunger, homelessness
and provision of social amenities have become the order of the day.
2. Respect for Human Rights, Due Process & the Rule of Law:-
One major plank of democracy and democratic governance is respect for human
rights, due process and the rule of law. In the last one year as in the previous
administrations since 1999, human rights of the citizens, rule of law and due
process have been grossly violated with impunity by both state and non state
actors. Only a negligible few of the perpetrators have been brought to book.
Popular instances include but not limited to:-
• The use of excessive force against armless protesters in the aftermath of the
January uprising against the unconscionable increase of pump price of fuel in which
over 26 Nigerians were killed and over 200 detained nationwide by security agents
and thugs,
• Detention of former ASUU president and Chairman of Joint Action Front
(JAF), Dr. Dipo Fashina, Abiodun Aremu, Mrs. Gianiat Fawehinmi, widow of late
Gani Fawehinmi etc.
• Use of tear gas and force to disperse protest by elder statesmen in Lagos
who rose to protest the criminal increase in pump price of fuel led by Prof Ben
Nwabueze and Tunji Braithwaite.
• Disobedience to the Minimum Wage Law by the government and consequent
arrest, detention and atrocious trial of labour activists as in the case of
• Comrade Osmond Ugwu, the chair of CLO, Enugu state and leader of Enugu
Workers’ Forum and Ralph Elobuike by the Enugu state governor, Sullivan Chime.
• Unlawful arrest, trial and remand at the Enugu prisons of Comrade for daring
to protest governor’s highhandedness.
• In Lagos state, public health institutions-hospitals both federal and state
owned- have been closed down because of government treachery and violation of
agreement. Lives are lost in their tens daily without hope to resolution in sight.
• As at today most governments have refused to obey the Minimum Wage Law
etc.
3. Prisons Conditions & the state of Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs). In April,
2011, former Minister of Interior, Navy Capt Iheanacho (rtd) told journalists in
Kaduna, Kaduna state, at the wake of the jail break in the city that of the 46 prison
population in Nigeria, Awaiting Trial Persons constitute 30,000. In the period under
review, government has done practically nothing to address the ugly situation as
ATPs cases still populate our prisons in spite of huge sums of money alleged to
have been voted and spent in the area. The debilitating conditions of the prisons are
still case of great concern to the CLO and human rights conscious Nigerians.
4. Extra-Judicial cases, police extortion and impunities. Under the same
period, despite continuous change of the baton in the office of the Inspector General
of Police, cases of extra-Judicial executions, extortion of the citizens despite the
closure of road blocks, unlawful arrest, detention and torture of victims and
sustenance of dirty and over-crowding cells have remained the same across the
country. These are in total contravention of the 1999 Constitution, the African
Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the UN Declaration of Human Rights and
numerous human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory.
5. The Deplorable treatment of Nigerians in foreign land without government’s
intervention and concern. Many Nigerians who live in foreign lands whose rights
have been immensely infringed upon and whose complaints have been brought
before previous as well as this regime have been utterly disregarded and not given
attention at all.
They include:
• The case of Joseph Adumukwe who was roasted by the Gabonese police and
forcefully deported to Nigeria in 2008. We have raised his issue before this and
previous governments but none has listened to our complaints and done anything to
bring justice to the victim now languishing without help in Lagos.
• Paul Moyo in Germany whose life is in grave danger on the threat of his
former girl friend with the German authorities taking sides with his girl friend.
Jonathan’s and previous Governments has turned deaf ears to his complaints and
cry for justice.
• Simeon Adebayor whose trip was irreligiously cut short in Holland on his way
to Spain and be deported to Nigeria. All complaints to the government have not
motivated government’s intervention.
6. Corruption:- Like its predecessors including their Master General Olusegun
Obasanjo who is today crying wolves, Jonathan administration, to summarise the
issue, has turned deaf ears to the cries against corruption by people in his
government and others who are said to be ‘’untouchables’’ in Nigeria. The greatest
problem Nigeria has as a country, as at today, is Corruption, followed by the abuse
of the rule of law and due process.
• None of the reports of the various probes commissioned by both the
executive and legislative arms of the government have implemented.
• Major culprits in the corruption allegations, mostly politicians and their
relations and associates have not been prosecuted or brought to book by the
government.
7. Mass Unemployment:- The ugly state of the teeming youth especially
graduates that are turned out yearly from tertiary institutions in and outside Nigeria
without jobs is a big dent on the government. Only the relations, friends and
associates of those in power and leaders of the ruling party or parties are
beneficiaries of the few spaces available for employment. In most cases, vacancies
are no longer advertised and where they are, are only to fulfil all righteousness.
Employment are bought and sold in Nigeria, without emphasis even on
qualifications but on who is related to who and who know who syndrome. This has
greatly assisted increase in social crises and unrest.
8. Energy/Power failure: Power which is central to development and investment
has continued to be a thing of great concern because the current government like
its predecessors lack the will power to deal with the corruption in the sector as in all
other sectors. Nigeria is still a generator run economy without hope in sight as
always promised. The situation has become more serious and disturbing in the last
few months.
9. Lastly, more than before, the educational sector has collapsed, Nigerians
now feed from the dustbins as prophesied by fugitive Umaru Dikko in the 1980s and
Nigerians walk the streets, stay in their offices, markets, schools and homes in fear
of insecurity to their lives and property.
OUR POSITION
Nigerians must prepare to rescue their society from the corrupt, visionless, inhuman
and unjust politicians before it is too late. No government has a right to victimise,
traumatise, loot, plunder and cage its citizens and society as Nigerian system has
done and continued to do. Rights are not given, they are fought for. We must rise up
now and reclaim our good land-flowing with ‘’milk and honey”.
God bless Nigeria!
Comrade, Ibuchukwu Ohabuenyi Ezike.
Executive Director.
Civil Liberties Organisation.
08037875414 & 08027222409.
ibuchialuta@yahoo.com.
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-Editor, African Examiner
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Jonathan’s One Year in Office: Business As Usual -CLO
Jonathan’s One Year in Office: Business As Usual -CLO
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African Examiner
Monday, May 28, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
| Copyrights © 2007 All Rights Reserved African Examiner Online is owned by RD Frontline LLC, a state of Maryland registered company P. O. Box 11582 Baltimore, Maryland, 21229, USA Tel: 443-904-1239. Editor-In-Chief: Oludare Sunday Fase |
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