The Nation Newspaper

Tag: HURIWA

  • HURIWA, Jurist Omolaye-Ajileye commend SSS DG For N20m award to wrongfully arrested individuals

    HURIWA, Jurist Omolaye-Ajileye commend SSS DG For N20m award to wrongfully arrested individuals

    Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), and a jurist and visiting Professor at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN),  Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, have commended the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr.

    Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, for awarding N20 million as compensation to Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe and five other individuals wrongfully arrested. 

    HURIWA said the latest compensation, the recent judicial victory recorded by the DSS in the suit filed against Prof. Pat Utomi’s bid to float a shadow cabinet, and another against African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, were testimonies to the DG’s faith in the rule of law. 

    On his part, retired Justice Omolaye-Ajileye, lauded the DSS boss for demonstrating leadership, accountability, and respect for human rights, saying they reflect a commitment to transparency and the rule of law. 

    “The award of N20 million in total compensation to these wrongfully detained individuals showcases Mr. Ajayi’s total dedication to rectifying mistakes, building public trust, and upholding justice,” said the retired judge. 

    “This action sets a positive precedent for other security agencies to follow and underscores the DSS’s commitment to

    protecting the rights of Nigerian citizens,” noted the retired jurist. 

    According to HURIWA: “The decision to challenge Professor Pat Utomi’s plan to form a shadow cabinet in court, rather than resorting to unlawful arrest or detention, is a significant step towards entrenching democratic principles.”

    In a statement by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA noted that the “DSS’ recourse to judicial interpretation marks a refreshing departure from the long-standing culture of arbitrary clampdowns on dissenting voices. 

    “By seeking judicial interpretation, the DSS has shown that law enforcement can safeguard internal security while still respecting constitutional freedom,” observed the NGO, adding, “this approach aligns with global best practices in democratic governance.”

    On the new DSS culture of compensating persons wrongfully arrested, HURIWA noted, “These actions, the fourth that has become public knowledge, demonstrate that the DSS, under Mr. Ajayi, recognizes that mistakes are inevitable in security operations.

    “However, what defines professionalism is the courage to admit errors and offer redress. We urge the DSS to codify these reforms into official practice directions so that the principles of compensation, accountability, and respect for due process become entrenched in the Service’s operations,” observed the NGO. 

    “The DSS has set a standard that others must follow; one where internal security is pursued without trampling on fundamental rights. If sustained, this new culture will enhance professionalism, boost public confidence, and consolidate Nigeria’s democratic values,” the group concluded.

  • HURIWA hails Tinubu’s governance on economic advancement

    HURIWA hails Tinubu’s governance on economic advancement

    The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on Monday described two recent economic advancement initiatives of the current administration for the youths of Nigeria and staff of tertiary institutions as significant and impactful.

    HURIWA urged the government to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of its policies.

    According to a statement issued by the National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko; “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu knowing that these two programmes are capable of economically advancing the welfare and wellbeing of the youth population and a large number of staff of higher educational institutions, should direct the EFCC and ICPC to set up monitoring desks to oversee and forensically monitor the implementation of these two economic development initiatives”.

    HURIWA recalled that in his Democracy Day address on June 12, President Bola Tinubu made a promise that this July, the Federal Government would launch a credit initiative to impact 400,000 Nigerians – including youth corps members – with consumer credit.

    The human rights group affirmed that it is worthwhile to applaud the government for ensuring that the promise of the President comes to life at the weekend with the official launch of YouthCred, a national initiative under the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), aimed at empowering young Nigerians with responsible access to credit—starting with NYSC Corps members.

    The civil rights advocacy group, quoting a media statement from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, stated that the government asserted that the launch follows the successful Strategic Planning and Debriefing Session of NYSC State Coordinators, where CREDICORP formally signed an MOU with the National Youth Service Corps and trained NYSC officers across all 36 states on the YouthCred platform.

    This, HURIWA said, marks a critical institutional alignment between both agencies to deliver credit, not just as financing, but as a tool for economic transformation.

    HURIWA noted that with a youth unemployment statistical data that is considerably high at 7.2 percent in the second quarter of 2023, the government should be commended for the efforts to economically empower the youths.

    The group also observed that the country is not seriously lacking in good projects on paper, but emphasized that what is of paramount importance is for the government to adopt the best global practices and put in place a clean governance structure that would compel the agencies responsible for executing these projects to carry them through to their logical conclusions to empower the targeted youth’s population.

    Read Also: HURIWA faults targeted attacks on Matawalle

    HURIWA recommended that government officials who obstruct the smooth implementation of these pro-poor economic empowerment initiatives for the youth population and staff of higher educational institutions in the country should be prosecuted efficiently by the anti-corruption agencies and blacklisted as economic saboteurs whose names should be on the National criminal data.  

    The group also called on the organised civil society organisations to form coalitions to effectively observe the implementation of the initiative and also the loan scheme being introduced for staff of tertiary institutions, which HURIWA advocated should rather be converted to a credit scheme rather than a loan scheme, which is characterised by high interest rates.

    HURIWA, citing published official information, stated that the Federal Government has launched the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a loan scheme that provides eligible tertiary institution staff with up to ₦10 million to support their welfare and development.

    The Rights group recalled that last year, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abuja zone, had disclosed the death of some of its members due to economic hardship alongside poor remuneration of academics and unfavourable working conditions.

  • Civil societies inciting rebellion

    Civil societies inciting rebellion

    The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has been consistent in its opposition to the government of the day, particularly right from the days of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. But much more than its consistency, it has also been hyperbolic. Virtually every statement its spokesmen issue has been tinged with hysterical denunciation of the administrations, with some of the statements bordering on incitement. Like any other civil society organisation, HURIWA has the constitutional right to advocate any cause intended to promote democracy and good and accountable governance. But to veer to incitement, knowingly or otherwise, is indefensible. Indeed, the organisation’s hysterical response to the long-standing culture of political defections is difficult to justify.

    Last week, in their attempt to discourage defections, HURIWA attempted to correlate the migration of some lawmakers and even governors to the ruling party with a crime worthy of a coup d’etat. It is far-fetched, but the group’s national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, managed to find corollaries to justify his inciting conclusions. “We are sounding a strong note of warning and a profound caution to Nigeria’s legislators to comply with the constitutional provisions on defections,” he began impatiently, “and stop the current political insanity represented by their unbridled cross-carpeting from their original parties into the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).” He then added: “This anti-constitutional practice by the politicians constitute a dangerous threat to multiparty democracy, even as this politically sinister tendency of defecting from their parties to the ruling party could provide the needed motivation and elixir for coupists to attempt to torpedo democracy.”

    Apart from the value judgements that surreptitiously filtered into the statement, it is not also clear whether Mr Onwubiko understood that he was also planting the seed of a forcible overthrow of the government, and by implication democracy, in the minds of ambitious coupists. Defections have been rife in Nigeria since ages, the Fourth Republic not excluded. More importantly, the defections have in the past two decades and more not been unidirectional. So, how on earth could this set of ongoing defections lead both to a one-party state, not to talk of attract a coup d’etat? And just in case anyone thought Mr Onwubiko minced words, he repeated himself by condemning those he described as “these anti-constitutional and anti-democratic forces embedded in the National Assembly for flagrantly flouting the law with the hidden agenda to motivate ambitious people within the military to try to overthrow constitutional democracy.”

    Read Also: Terrorists kill four soldiers in fresh attack on Shiroro communities

    Anyone or group can openly or secretly admire any political party or party leader, as Mr Onwubiko is obviously doing. And they also have the constitutional right to support or oppose anyone or view or position. But they do not have the right to incite the overthrow of constitutional order. Since its formation in 2007, HURIWA has not been known for measured responses. If they are not strident today, they are apocalyptic tomorrow, and their reasoning and conclusions are sometimes excessive and illogical. More, they have found it difficult to resist being politically prejudiced. As a civil society group, nothing stops them from testing in court the defections that have drawn their ire. As a matter of fact, there are many civil and democratic options available to them, assuming they have not already made up their minds, as some CSOs have done in the past few years, to incite and insinuate the collapse of the democracy they insincerely claim to be promoting and defending.

  • HURIWA warns Abure against undermining Labour Party

    HURIWA warns Abure against undermining Labour Party

    The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned Julius Abure’s continued occupation of the national chairmanship of the Labour Party, despite a definitive Supreme Court judgment dismissing his claims to the position.

    In a statement released on Friday, the civil rights group expressed alarm over what it described as Abure’s blatant disregard for the apex court’s ruling and his alleged efforts to destabilize one of Nigeria’s few credible opposition parties.

    HURIWA warned that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat if the country drifts into a de facto one-party system, stressing that a viable and respected opposition like the Labour Party must be protected and preserved.

    According to the group, Abure’s insistence on retaining the leadership role—despite the Supreme Court’s clear dismissal of his cross-appeal seeking judicial validation—is a direct affront to the rule of law and institutional integrity.

    Rather than complying with the judicial verdict, HURIWA alleged that Abure has chosen to cling to power, fueling internal crises and division within the party. 

    The group described his actions as contempt of court and a dangerous violation of the principle of separation of powers in a constitutional democracy.

    HURIWA also echoed concerns raised by legal expert and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, who recently warned against the growing trend of political actors twisting Supreme Court judgments for personal gain.

    Ubani described the practice as a dangerous affront to judicial authority, urging political leaders to respect the sanctity of the judiciary and uphold democratic norms.

    Ubani stated: “Even when orders of court are unambiguous, parties deliberately misinterpret and misrepresent them, particularly those of the Supreme Court, rather than submitting to the authority and finality of these decisions. Despite a clear judicial pronouncement, the contending factions have continued to hold opposing positions, undermining the authority of the court’s decision.”

    He urged the judiciary and the legal profession to act decisively by pursuing contempt proceedings against parties who misinterpret or defy court judgments. He also called for clearer consequential orders in judgments, ethical conduct by legal practitioners, and the active enforcement of judicial decisions.

    HURIWA echoed Ubani’s concerns and called on the Nigeria Police Force to perform its constitutional role by removing Julius Abure from the Labour Party national secretariat and enforcing the Supreme Court’s decision. “It is a matter of honour and law,”

    HURIWA stated. “If the Nigeria Police truly operates under the law and the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Police Act of 2020, then the enforcement of the Supreme Court judgment should be non-negotiable.”

    The group emphasised that the police should not act like “a boys’ brigade of the ruling APC,” and must immediately enforce the legal rights of the lawfully recognized Labour Party leadership, which is the Interim National Committee led by former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman.

    The rights group insisted that the legitimate leaders should be given unfettered access to the party structure.

    HURIWA called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop acting in cowardice and assert its statutory supervisory role over political parties as enshrined in the Electoral Act.

    The group criticised INEC for enabling the confusion within the Labour Party through inaction and called for urgent intervention to prevent chaos from overtaking the internal workings of political parties in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Nenadi, NLC, Apapa battle for grip of LP with Abure

    HURIWA also called on the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the original institutional promoter and founding stakeholder of the Labour Party, to rise up and reclaim its rightful oversight and leadership role within the party.

    “The NLC owns a significant stake—up to 50 percent—in the Labour Party. It must not remain silent in the face of this lawlessness. If there are plans by the NLC to take back the party and reassert control grounded in the rule of law, HURIWA stands firmly in support,” the statement read.

    The association decried Abure’s continued stay in office as symptomatic of a wider national malaise where individuals treat the Supreme Court with contempt and disregard, likening the situation to a “banana republic” where even the highest court’s orders are openly flouted.

    HURIWA concluded by warning that the continued undermining of constructive opposition politics and constitutional democracy in Nigeria cannot be tolerated. “Enough is enough,” the rights group stated. “We must respect the rule of law. The Supreme Court has spoken, and its judgment must be obeyed.”

  • Stop partisan politicking under the guise of advocacy, group tells HURIWA

    Stop partisan politicking under the guise of advocacy, group tells HURIWA

    A civil rights group, Hope Arewa Development Initiative (HADI) has told the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) to stop engaging in partisan politicking under the guise of advocacy.

    The national coordinator of the group, Dr. Adamu Mohammed in a statement in Abuja on Monday while reacting to the position of HURIWA on the allegations of bandit sponsorship in Zamfara state, said the latter has abandoned its core mandate by its position on the matter.

    Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State recently raised concerns about the state of affairs he inherited upon assuming office in a television interview and levied some accusations of bandit sponsorship and misappropriation of state funds.

    But HURIWA condemned the governor over its comments on the situation in the state.

    Reacting to HURIWA, Mohammed, said: “With great disappointment and concern, we observe HURIWA’s apparent deviation from its supposed core mandate as a human rights organization, instead choosing to engage in what can only be described as partisan politicking under the guise of advocacy.”

    HADI argued that the issues raised by the Zamfara state governor were not trivial matters to be handled with kid’s gloves, as they strike at the heart of governance, security, and the welfare of the people of the State.

    According to  Mohammed: “In a televised interview, Governor Lawal raised grave concerns about the state of affairs he inherited upon assuming office, including accusations of sponsorship of bandits and misappropriation of state funds. These are not trivial matters to be handled with kid’s gloves, as they strike at the heart of governance, security, and the welfare of the people of Zamfara State.

    Read Also: Edo 2024: HURIWA backs INEC’s disqualification of agents

    “HURIWA’s response to these allegations is, frankly, puzzling and deeply troubling. Instead of calling for a thorough investigation into these serious claims – as one would expect from a genuine and world-class human rights organization – HURIWA has chosen to summarily dismiss them as ‘unsubstantiated’ and ‘lacking merit’.

    “To the good people of Zamfara and the Nigerians, this knee-jerk defence of a political figure raises serious questions about HURIWA’s true allegiances and motivations. Maybe today or tomorrow, the organization will do Nigerians good to tell their true motivations.”

    Mohammed further said: “The issues at stake here are not mere political imbroglio, as HURIWA would have us believe. They are matters of life and death, of economic survival, and of the fundamental human rights of the citizens of Zamfara state.

    “To this end, the Hope Arewa Development Initiative calls on HURIWA to reconsider its position and approach.

    “A true human rights organization should investigate all allegations of human rights abuses, corruption and bad governance thoroughly and impartially, who makes the accusations or who stands accused.

    “HURIWA should resist the temptation to become entangled in partisan politics, maintaining independence and credibility by holding all parties to the same high standards. We urge the organization to return to its roots as a defender of human rights and to take up the real challenges facing the people of Zamfara State and the wider north.”

  • HURIWA seeks robust civil society support against crude oil theft

    HURIWA seeks robust civil society support against crude oil theft

    Leading Civil Rights advocacy group Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has rallied civil rights organisations and non-governmental entities to join forces in solidarity with  Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Mele Kyari. 

    In an era where the nefarious activities of organised criminal syndicates threaten to destabilise the very foundation of economic backbone, HURIWA underscored the imperative for a united front against this pervasive menace as a call to action, stating that with a staggering 9,000 infractions recorded on oil pipelines within a single year, demanding a concerted response from all sectors of society.

    “The recent disclosure by Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, revealing a staggering 9,000 infractions on oil pipelines within a single year, underscores the critical urgency for all members of the civil society in Nigeria to actively unite and offer unwavering support and solidarity. Our collective efforts are imperative to swiftly combat the scourge of crude oil theft and ensure its swift defeat.

    “The visionary leadership of Mele Kyari and the NNPCL management, in their relentless pursuit of counter-crude oil theft strategies, has garnered commendation. However, the depth and breadth of the crisis necessitate a broader coalition, drawing from the moral authority and constitutional mandate vested in the Nigerian citizenry,” HURIWA stated. 

    It emphasised the appeal for broad-based civil society and nationwide support and solidarity with the NNPCL in combating crude oil theft is firmly rooted in constitutional principles. 

    It highlighted Section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic which mandates citizens to actively uphold good governance standards, as the foundation of their call to action.

    Read Also: Reps pledge to support NSCDC tackle crude oil theft, protect critical national assets

    “Mele Kyari, speaking during an oversight function at the NNPC headquarters, revealed the extent of the challenge, with 6,465 illegal refineries deactivated and nearly 5,000 illegal pipeline connections removed. He acknowledged the daunting nature of the task, noting that despite efforts, the scale of infractions remains staggering, often escalating immediately after intervention.

    “Kyari stressed the centrality of security in addressing pipeline vandalism, underscoring NNPC’s collaboration with all security agencies and private security firms. Despite operational challenges, he affirmed the corporation’s capacity to exceed two million barrels per day but lamented the impact of crude oil theft on production targets, citing a drop to 1.1 million barrels per day in 2022.

    “In conclusion, Kyari reiterated the urgent need for decisive action to avert further decline in production, attributing the shortfall primarily to crude theft. He underscored the interconnectedness of this issue with broader challenges facing the industry, emphasizing the imperative for concerted efforts to curb illicit activities and safeguard Nigeria’s oil resources,” HURIWA stated. 

    HURIWA applauded Kyari’s unwavering resolve and patriotic fervor in confronting this hydra-headed monster of crude oil theft. Moreover, the organization revealed ongoing deliberations with various stakeholders across civil society and non-governmental spheres to establish a national network of civil rights bodies in support of combating crude oil thefts.

    “This collaborative endeavor seeks to harness the collective wisdom and resources of credible civil rights leaders, fostering a unified front against the scourge of crude oil theft. Through multifaceted dialogues and strategic advocacy initiatives, HURIWA aims to galvanize widespread support for the NNPCL’s endeavors, ensuring the realization of holistic objectives in the battle against this pernicious threat.

    “In the face of adversity, unity becomes our greatest strength. Let us stand together, resolute in our commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s resources and upholding the principles of justice, equity, and prosperity for all,” HURIWA stressed.

  • HURIWA and Onwubiko’s Normalization of Ethnic Bigotry

    The National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association, HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko has apparently gotten a new lease of life. Those who may not know him well enough would be unaware that the enforced silence, seen on his part, in recent times has nothing to do with retreating for introspection, which would have been a good thing since that would have imposed a period of coerced reasoning on him, something he appears incapable of. The silence on his part is a manifestation of the power of hunger.

    Those who know him are conversant with how such period of silence was dictated by the absence of a client to inspire Onwubiko to write misleading pieces or making rounds of the studio of media outlets where he performs as a talking head, a pseudo-expert in activism, albeit without the fair disclosure that his brand of activism is the one that can only be procured and activated by the abundance of lucre. The money comes in and Onwubiko starts chiming on loop like the sound of the bank alert that announced that his clients have paid for him to resume his mud slinging.
    One would think that receiving money for his activism would at least prompt him to go out on a limb in an attempt to wrap the sewer cleaning job he does in some layer of respectability. That is however something he does not have capacity for. He is too given to ethnic bigotry to deliver something relevant and useful for his client in the hope that such will accidentally contribute to the public discourse on whatever he is being paid to muddle up. Note must be made here of the fact that Onwubiko’s contributions to national dialogue have only been belligerent, attacking individuals and organizations, without ever coming up with a constructive concept of how to deal with an issue.
    This is the logical explanation for his recent outburst against the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General TY Buratai, who Onwubiko picked offense against for highlighting the political facet of the criminality that appeared to have escalated in several parts of Nigeria. Perhaps at this point, a futile attempt should be made to educate Onwubiko, his lack of capacity to genuinely learn is not in doubt as he has on several occasions demonstrated that much. But efforts must still be made to highlight certain things, at least for the benefit of those that he is misleading.
    Had he but stepped back and think about the situation without the impact of the dizzying ethnic bigotry that drives him, he would have noted, like other right thinking Nigerians, that the escalation of security breaches occured sharply in the weeks after the elections, which has been attributed to defeated politicians covertly supporting or sponsoring such criminal acts. Perhaps he knows the facts but decided to play the ostrich because admitting that failed politicians contribute to insecurity would amount to self indictment since these failures of politicians are not only his associates but are also the ones plying him with bread and butter to provide the energy for his keening.
    It must be appreciated that while Onwubiko is not alone in being paid to criticize public office holders and critical national institutions, he seems to hold the record for being the worst ethnic bigot in his field, save for a couple of other hirelings from the southwest whose outbursts can be legitimately attributed to mental health issues and substance abuse. Onwubiko’s unacceptable ethnic bigotry is one that must be addressed for the very fact that it poses the risk of distorting the field in a manner that makes seeking non-violent solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges difficult, if not impossible. He has no right to create such problem for Nigeria, a country he loathes belonging to since he has severally expressed his preference for the defunct Biafra.
    This is why it is unfortunate that he accused the COAS of all manner of things for being forthcoming about why banditry and other criminal situations persists in the same statement in which he accused the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila of ‘high treason’ for going on an exploratory visit of troubled places in Zamfara state in pursuit of peace building. Such conflicting response should remove every doubt that exists as to whether Onwubiko’s ethnic bigotry has destroyed the last shred of objective reasoning he is capable of.
    Only such ingrained bigotry can make a man that supports a designated terrorist group, the Indigenous People of Baifra, IPOB, come out to speak as if Nigerians have forgotten where he stands on the unity of the country. He believes and support IPOB’s goal of partitioning Nigeria, destroying the country, so that some people can massage their lack of capacity for living in a multicultural country. Had General Buratai not been professional in curtailing and ultimately crushing IPOB’s criminal activities Nigeria would have become history and there would be no country for Onwubiko to rant about.
    He regularly rants along these bigoted ethnic lines, which poses the risk that some people could be misled into believing his lies if they continue to be exposed to them without the record being set straight. Onwubiko is aware that if he repeats his lies often enough, people will still not believe him, but there is the risk of attenuation, whereby his irresponsible utterances become less jarring as people get used to them. This is a process of normalizing bigotry, something Onwubiko, or at least those using him, is aware of.
    Normalization of ethnic bigotry is a development that right thinking Nigerians must not allow to happen. People of conscience must continually rise up to ensure that Onwubiko’s attempt to make bigotry the new normal is fiercely rejected, with him being put in his place each time he attempts to turn history on its head and make his own ethnic group appear dominant over the others. Those with the resources can attempt to rehabilitate him so that he finds other productive engagements to put food on his table, That way he would not have to pretend to be a concerned activist when in reality all that he wants to cater to are his pocket and perverted ethnic orientation. This is why HURIWA and Onwubiko’s normalization of ethnic bigotry must not be allowed.

    Abiodun is a public affairs commentator based in Ibadan.

     

  • HURIWA As IPOB’s NGO Arm

    There is bad, there is disaster and there is HURIWA, Human Rights Writers Association. HURIWA is alleging extralegal killings in the implementation of Operation Python Dance II in the southeast geo-political zone and thinks that this is a justification for decentralizing the nation’s military assets.

    Before attempting an understanding of the outlandish claims and even more outrageous suggestion, an appreciation of what or who HURIWA is perhaps necessary, for as Khalil Gibran wrote “And you who would understand justice, how shall you unless you look upon all deeds in the fullness of light?” When looked at in the fullness of light, HURIWA is an embodiment of the character driving it, one Emmanuel Onwubiko, who has run the so-called NGO as a sole proprietorship, tool for extortion, paid activism, ethnic propaganda mouthpiece and most recently as a terror organization’s NGO arm.
    Onwubiko of course applied the veneer of respectability to HURIWA by latching on the words “Human Rights” which should tickle the fancy at a time that the world is making the culture of political correctness into a cult following. The appellation would have suggested neutrality, objectivity and universal application of standards across board. Save for some coerced staffers with Islamic names used as decoys, HURIWA is capitally Igbo is in all it does. Igbo to an extent that the only thing that makes it bother about non-Igbo issues is when there is money to be made from the subject matter and at such times morality has no role to play.
    It is therefore not surprising that the only noticeable time Onwubiko/HURIWA had pursued any non-Igbo issue with conviction was when he got the contract to make the outlawed Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) appear saintly. Then, like now, he could not help but stand logic on its head and must have thought this time around that since he has the experience of defending a quasi-terror group, albeit with a high degree of failure, he can help defend the latest terror group on the planet, IPOB, the Indigenous People of Biafra.
    Having established the pedigree of HURIWA and its owner as bigoted pieces of work, the perspective becomes clearer as to why Onwubiko never thought to call his brother, Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader to order for the series of misdeeds that were the foundation for the tension that he (Onwubiko) has suddenly found irksome today. If HURIWA were genuinely in the business of writing about ‘human rights’ then it would have known that use of offensive terms and derogatory association infringe on their recipients’ right to dignity. HURIWA and Onwubiko were around when Kanu and the IPOB rabble gleefully referred to Nigerians as ‘animals’ living in the ‘zoo’.
    The sole proprietorship was there when IPOB lock down the economy of some Nigerian states thereby denying some families the means of their (daily) livelihood for the duration of the so called ‘sit-at-home’ that people were not given the option of observing but were coerced by IPOB’s militants. Perhaps, Onwubiko was passed out in a beer parlour when Kanu declared in Ohafia that he was coming to Abuja to bring back the head of President Muhammadu Buhari – he should not have ever bragged about bringing back anyone’s head since the teenage girl recently caught in Imo with two human heads is enough proof that when certain people speak of cutting off human heads it is not to be taken slightly.
    Where was HURIWA’s censure when IPOB delivered the endless barrage of hate speech even as other groups continually raised the alarm for them to stop? The sick behaviour was defended as freedom of speech and some even went on to say that Igbos are given to metaphorical speech. Several IPOB members, within and outside the south-east geo-political zone, have openly admitted to stockpilling weapons in preparation to dealing with other Nigerians. The group also bragged about having a nuclear weapon that can destroy ten states in the north and Onwubiko did not think that the entire population of the north would have been left jittery, fearing for their life.
    What took the cake was HURIWA’s indifference to Kanu’s launch of Biafra Secret Service, BSS, a militia group in violation of Section 227 of the Constitution that categorically stated that “No association shall retain, organise, train or equip any person or group of persons for the purpose of enabling them to be employed for the use or display of physical force or coercion in promoting any political objective or interest or in such manner as to arouse reasonable apprehension that they are organised and trained or equipped for that purpose.”
    Phone records would show that Onwubiko was in touch with Kanu, or at least through proxies, before and after he inaugurated IPOB’s army so he shares the blame for not advising his client not to dare the state. Transaction records could also link him to Kanu or other IPOB sponsors, which would be most unfortunate since monetary gains should take secondary place where the stability of a country is concerned. Only that the agenda of HURIWA and IPOB are the same so the integrity of Nigeria is not of concern to Onwubiko here.
    It is therefore inconceivable that HURIWA/Onwubiko expected that the Army would conduct its operations differently when it knows it was dealing with an entity that has declared itself as a parallel army. This is more so that IPOB members pelted troops with various objects to trigger what was to later follow.
    Sadly, Onwubiko’s conclusions appeared to have been reliant on fake news and managed images and videos. For someone that is masquerading as being involved in human rights work, photo and video verification skill has become a prerequisite to ensure that reports are not based on lies and manipulated reality. He should have had the presence of mind to ask questions as to why the videos circulated by his clients have been cut to exclude portions that document their provocations. He should have also queried why gory pictures from other unfortunate incidents are being passed off as images from the military operation in south-east. Except of course he is ignorant of these manipulations, he is being mischievous or both in varying mixes.
    HURIWA’s other failings may be excusable but its call for military assets to be decentralized has set a new record in being irresponsible in making contribution to a public discourse. First, with the history of attempted secession five decades ago and the military coups that plagued the country afterwards, it is only logical that temptations are kept away from would be treasonable fellows. Secondly, if the military assets were kept within IPOB’s reach would the situation not have been worse than what we are currently dealing with since the terrorists would have simply overrun the facility and use the equipment against the Nigerian state?
    Those who truly understand what is at stake are warning against treating the IPOB issues with the same levity and ethnic sentiments that made Boko Haram into the one that got away. HURIWA was silent when the head of another insurrection group, Ombatse was killed during a security operation in Alakyo, Nasarawa state ion November 16, 2014; its voice was only heard when it was paid to harass Labaran Maku, the then information minister. Had Ombatse not been contained then through a timely deployment the situation would probably been a horror show by now.
    Someone must therefore help Onwubiko end his hallucination of trying to drag the international community into what remains, for now, Nigeria’s internal affairs. IPOB has been designated a terror group, anyone that belongs to it would be tracked down and brought to justice irrespective of ethnicity. Kanu has made his choice, he must have been fully conscious of what he was doing when he broke every law imaginable because he was confident of the backing of failed entities like HURIWA and characters like Onwubiko. HURIWA must similarly make its choice, a decision to either be a proper human rights NGO or to be the NGO arm of IPOB. Prevaricating between both possibilities would not serve its client, Kanu well.
    Otairu esq  writes from the Centre for International and Strategy Studies, Abuja.‎

  • Ezekwesili, Eastern Assembly, HURIWA knock Buhari’s broadcast

    Ezekwesili, Eastern Assembly, HURIWA knock Buhari’s broadcast

    A former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, yesterday described the broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari as a “missed opportunity”.

    “I can give an instant citizen’s feedback to President @MBuhari that his speech this morning was a a terrible case of missed opportunity,” she twitted yesterday.

    The Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) faulted the President’s position on the unity of Nigeria, which Buhari said was not negotiable.

    In a statement by its secretary Elliot Ugochukwu Uko, the ECA said the “shocking position of the president is a confirmation that he is clearly the wrong person to govern Nigeria”.

    It added: “Nigeria is tottering at the edge of the precipice, bursting at the seams and sitting on a combustible keg of gun powder, and Mr Buhari and his speech writers are the only people who are unaware of this self-evident fact.

    “If Mr. President does not immediately as a matter of urgency set up a constituent assembly to draft a new people’s constitution that will be affirmed at referendum before the end of 2017, there will be no Nigeria by 2018.

    “We also implore Mr. President to apologise to Nigerians without delay on his very provocative position on Nigeria’s very fragile unity.

    “It is a tragedy that we are ruled by a man who is completely out of touch with reality. This means that the disintegration of Nigeria is inevitable, as only an early return to true fiscal federalism anchored on regional autonomy in an immediate consensual restructuring may save Nigeria now.

    “Those who are yet to come to grip with that are living in another world.

    Nigeria must be negotiated or Nigeria will die.”

    Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA),  the presidential address is “not far-reaching and re-assuring”.

    HURIWA also said Nigeria’s unity is not cast in iron and is open to continuous negotiations, restructuring and reworking since ab initio the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914, which produced the geographical entity called Nigeria, was done by the British colonial overlords without the democratic input of our forefathers.

    The group reminded the President that even the United Kingdom that: “gave us the independence is open to the possible break-up through the democratic referendum by one of the component parts known as Scotland.” In life, one basic fact that is permanent is change,” it said.

    In the statement jointly signed by National Coordinator  Emmanuel Onwubiko and National Director of Media Miss. Zaniab Yusuf, HURIWA said:  ”May we respectfully remind President Buhari that Article 1 of the international Covenant on civil and political Rights states thus: ”All peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right that freely determines their political status and freely pursues their economic, social and cultural development. Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights avers that: “Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association and no one may be compelled to belong to an association”.

  • HURIWA petitions UN over EFCC’s raid on Adoke’s home

    HURIWA petitions UN over EFCC’s raid on Adoke’s home

    THE Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has protested to the United Nations (UN) against alleged harassment of a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The organisation faulted the invasion of the homes of Adoke in Abuja, Kano and Kogi states.

    It asked the UN to invoke its Article 17 on International Covenant on civil and political rights to protect Adoke’s fundamental rights.

    HURIWA made its position known in a petition to the UN against the backdrop of the recent combing of Adoke’s houses by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Police.

    A statement by the group’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko and National Media Affairs Director Miss. Zainab Yusuf, said it has sent a team to Dakar, Senegal over the weekend.

    It said the petition was submitted to Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) for West Africa.

    The petition reads in part: ”We write you this petition with the greatest respect and with the ultimate expectation that you would use your good offices and institutions to wade into the matter and demand that the Nigerian State provides remedial redress to the victims of serial human rights violations aforementioned.

    “This petition is being written purely from an independent perspective as credible stakeholders in the Nigerian human rights community.

    “We have existed and worked actively to defend human rights in Nigeria of all classes since a decade ago.

    “We at the HURIWA have followed with considerable shock and trepidation, the continuous harassment of the family members of the immediate past Federal Attorney General and minister of Justice Alhaji Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. There is also allegation of threats to the life of the immediate past AGF.

    “The former Minister of Justice, who has been in Europe for his post master’s degree course, has cried out on several occasions that the lives of his immediate family members are threatened by members of the cabal within the Presidency in Nigeria because of the ongoing issues relating to the lawful action he took in his capacity as the nation’s chief law officer in the business transaction over oil well involving such parties as Malabu and Shell.”

    “Sir, we will for historical purposes present the summary of the matter of Malabu and to show your good offices that in the entire scenario, the immediate past AGF is being wrongfully targeted may be because of his political persuasion or because he was a key kitchen cabinet member of the last government headed by the now opposition party- People’s Democratic Party.”

    HURIWA raised some issues, which the UN should look into.

    It added: “Why isolate and select Adoke for persistent harassment when the FG hasn’t been able to establish any evidence of wrongdoing or show any bribery transaction linking the immediate past AGF?

    “The action of invasion of homes of Adoke in Abuja, Kano and Kogi states is illegal and unconstitutional and violates all known laws of civility and human rights…”

    It added: “We believe that the incessant invasions of private residences of the family of the immediate past minister and the willful destruction of his property by agents of the Nigerian government amounts to the violation and negation of the fundamental obligations of the Nigerian State to protect and promote the human rights of Nigerians.

    “Nigeria being a signatory to several international human rights and humanitarian treaties, covenants and treaties, we urge you to use your good offices to compel the Nigerian government to comply with three basic state obligations arising from human rights namely the obligation to respect; the obligation to protect; and the obligation to fulfill.”