Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012—7
Why rights violations are high in Nigeria —NHRC boss BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH
BUJA — HUMAN rights violations have continued to be on the increase in Nigeria because majority of Nigerians are not yet aware of their rights and privileges, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Prof. Ben Angwe, has said. Angwe, who spoke exclusively to Vanguard in Abuja, yesterday, said the rights of Nigerians would continuously be trampled upon by malevolent forces as long as individuals and groups were not aware of what they were legally entitled to. The NHRC boss noted that from the commission’s finding, the poor and the elite in the society were ignorant of their rights and privileges and were, therefore, not in a position to seek redress even when they were wronged. Angwe said: “In a situation where most people are not even aware of their rights, it makes it very difficult for us to be able to protect them.
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The United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plaza, Breadfruit Street, Lagos, gutted by fire, weekend. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.
N-Assembly 'll create more states —Mark Says it will address marginalisation Condemns renewed attacks on churches BY HENRY UMORU
BUJA — SENATE President David Mark, yesterday, said the National Assembly would create additional states, just as he stressed that the move was desirable for the country as it would help address marginalisation. Mark, who noted that creation of additional states would bring government closer to the people, said: “Creation of additional states can only make government closer to the people contrary to the view in certain quarters that we do not need additional states in the federation.” Meanwhile, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark condemned the renewed attack against places of worship particularly the attack on St. Rita's Catholic Church, K aduna, yesterday, adding that it was never too late for perpetrators of the dastardly act to repent from their sinful acts against God. Mark, who spoke at the Ojude-Oba Festival 2012 in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, expressed support for the agitation for the creation of Ijebu State out of the present Ogun State, noting that new states would address the issue of marginalisation being canvassed in many parts of the country today. Describing this year ’s edition of Ojude-Oba festival as a thanksgiving
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for the good health of Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Mark said as a nation of diverse cultures, we must take advantage of our diversity by using our culture as a symbol of unity. He urged Nigerians to come together and emphasise those things that bind us together as a nation. Earlier, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State who commended the bond of
unity among the indigenes and residents of the state, assured that his administration would continue to work for the development of Ogun State and her people. In his welcome address, Oba Adetona urged the National Assembly to address the alleged injustice against Ijebu people by ensuring the creation of Ijebu State, arguing that Ijebu was one of the original 24 provinces of Nigeria that is yet to become a state.
He said: “We have been on this issue of creation of Ijebu State since 1975. The justification for it is abundantly clear. The most worrisome aspect of it was the total neglect of Ijebu community in the state creation exercises that have taken place. “It is lamentable that Ijebu, which in the colonial era was one of the 24 provinces that made up Nigeria, cannot today boast of being counted as one of the 36 states that presently constitute the country.”
Monarch accuses Nasarawa govt of complicity in Tiv/Fulani crisis Says 80 of his subjects beheaded, slaughtered BY PETER DURU
AKURDI— PARAMOUNT ruler of Nagi Kingdom in Benue State, Ter Nagi, Chief Daniel Abomste, has claimed that the raging conflict between native Tiv farmers and invading Fulani herdsmen, has led to the beheading and slaughtering of more than 80 of his subjects just as he alleged the complicity of Nasarawa State government in the bloodbath. Abomste also alleged that the neighbouring Nasarawa State government was deliberately frustrating efforts by the Benue Sate government at finding lasting solutions to the recurrent carnage along the Benue-Nasarawa border communities.
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Addressing newsmen, yesterday, in Makurdi on the recent attacks on Tiv communities in Benue and Nasarawa States, the paramount ruler regretted that “the invading herdsmen are doing these with the tacit support of some government officials." He said: “How can anybody explain that these invading Fulani mercenaries maintain bases in communities in Nasarawa State which they use as launching pad against Tiv farmers in Benue and Nasarawa states yet the state government and the security agencies in that state feign ignorance of their activities. “They invade our communities in canoes provided them by the indigenous community, because we all know that
Fulanis don’t go in canoes. These mercenaries are killing our people and sacking our communities and everyone is turning a blind eye. “Regrettably, the recent unfortunate development which has seen the beheading and slaughtering of my people has completely made nonsense of the recommendations of the joint peace committee set up bythe Benue and Nasaraawa State governments.” The paramount ruler also regretted that the House of Representatives committee set up to investigate the recurrent conflict had failed to carry our its task to a logical conclusion, advising that the Federal Government step up action to stem the recurrent killings.
People need to know where their rights begin and end so that they can begin to respect those of others in this country. “When I talk about people not knowing their rights I am not just talking about poor people, I am talking about even the educated and well placed Nigerians. The elite are still not aware of their rights.” The NHRC boss said in a bid to reverse the high level of ignorance exhibited by Nigerians on human rights issues, the commission had begun a serious sensitisation programme aimed at changing the attitude of Nigerians towards their rights. He said: “First, the commission has started a process of translating the provisions of the Constitution and the relevant instruments regarding the rights of Nigerians into some major languages. These will be distributed free to all Nigerians. “We are also having town hall meetings where the people are educated on their rights. A few days ago, we inaugurated Human Rights Education programme in schools."
Public office holders tasked on public health facilities BY SOLA OGUNDIPE AGOS — FORTUNES of healthcare delivery in Nigeria would take a turn for the better if public office holders utilised public medical facilities in the country more judiciously than they do currently. The patronage of public health care institutions by public office holders would also boost the level of confidence in the nation’s healthcare system as well as tackle the problem of underutilisation of facilities and equipment. Chief Medical Director, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, OAUTHC, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Olusanya Adejuyigbe, who made the assertions, argued that it was only through patronage of public officers that public hospitals in Nigeria could enjoy the dual advantage of being appreciated and its leaders would see need to
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invest more in local infrastructure and human resources. In a chat, Adejuyigbe opined that 95 per cent of people travelling abroad were not going strictly for medical reasons, adding: ”Many people go out not because of medical reasons alone and sometimes they will not want to voice out why they go out for the treatment." He said a lot of women decide to have their babies abroad not because babies cannot be delivered in Nigeria, but because they might want to increase the likelihood of wanting their babies to acquire foreign passports in future. He said: “That is not medical reason. Lot of people migrate for medical treatment not because of incompetence or lack of equipment but for varieties of reasons. I cannot say we have all the infrastructure and personnel on ground to take care of all medical conditions."