By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka (Senior Correspondent)
A Lagos based human rights and advocacy group, Access to Justice (AJ) has declared that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is hostile to the principle of rule of law and human rights.
In a statement issued by its Deputy Director, Adenike Aiyedun, the group noted that, “As the United Nations has said on several occasions, human rights are inalienable rights, and every state is under an obligation to respect, promote, defend and protect the rule of law.
Access to Justice argued that rule of law requires respect for the principles of supremacy of the law, equality before the law, accountability to the law, fairness in the application of the law, separation of powers, public participation in decision-making, legal certainty, avoidance of arbitrariness and procedural and legal transparency by all arms of government.
According to the group, some of these precepts have, however, not been duly observed by the government of the day, positing that with the present state of affairs in the country, unfortunately, the significance of human rights day for Nigerians will be a pale one.
Part of the statement reads:”Practical evidence shows that the Nigerian government regards the rule of law and human rights as expendable obligations and rights, and will readily sacrifice these values for any cause of action it chooses to take, without due regard for the protection of the rights of its citizens.
“With the recent activities of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, he has managed to re-create an era of imperial Presidency, where no one is able to hold off the powers of the State and no court can compel the State to respect its decisions.
“The present administration has exhibited and continues to exhibit no regard for court orders, by willfully disobeying and flouting various court orders and rulings, thereby undermining the role of the judiciary.”
Furthermore, the group decried the action of some State security officers who have been exhibiting excessive forms of brutality, and in some occasions leading to death.
“Under President Buhari’s government, thousands of Nigerians have lost their lives to State violence perpetrated by forces of the State; these will include the many thousands who were randomly picked up from streets in the North East, profiled and ultimately summarily executed by Nigerian troops; hundreds of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shiites) members massacred by government forces by Nigeria security forces, during peaceful protests.
“They will also include hundreds of people who were extra-judicially killed by law enforcement agencies and those who will forever live with scars of physical brutality and trauma inflicted by law enforcement agencies.
“A practical example is the on-going social media EndSARS campaign, which has amplified Nigerians anger with chronically abusive policing, but the Buhari government acts out its indifference to what Nigerians are passing through by its silence to the agitations.
“We maintain that no responsible and accountable (democratic) government should turn a blind eye to atrocities being perpetrated against its citizens.
“The increase in impunity as exacerbated by the Nigerian security forces, obviously contravenes the whole concept of human rights, and raises several questions as to the willingness of the present administration to observe its national, regional and international human rights obligations as the year draws to a close” the group further stated
It also added that socio-economic rights have not fared any better, under President Buhari’s government.
“Rights of access to healthcare, education and work, protected under international and regional human rights treaties, and indeed backed by the Nigerian Constitution have not been realized by this government.
“While President Buhari and other top government officials are able to travel abroad for medical treatment with State resources, ordinary Nigerians are dying needlessly because of the lack of access to basic medical treatment, and some for ailments or conditions that are curable or manageable.
“We must also not ignore the lack of access to legal services in the country, due to financial barriers by many indigent Nigerians, and the lack of reform within the justice system.
“Access to Justice hereby urges President Buhari to repair the huge damage done to the security and enjoyment of human rights of Nigerians, as well as, the rule of law in the country.
“In order to do this, we ask the President to lead by example, and show more accountable leadership whenever there are human rights violations.
“We also implore him to respect the authority of courts, urgently reform the institutions of law enforcement and security, and bring to justice all those who have gravely violated the rights of others.
“We propose that the government focuses more on the realization of the socio-economic rights of its people, to ensure that all Nigerians can enjoy equal access to justice, basic healthcare and housing.
“Finally, we beseech the President to end the culture of impunity of owing backlogs of workers salaries, while State funds are being diverted to fund white elephant projects.”