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| HUMAN
RIGHT WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, (HURIWA), 2009 LECTURE. 9.00am….
Arrival and registration of participants, (general audience) |
RIGHTS GROUP ENDORSE IMOKE’S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD TEXT OF A NEWS CONFERENCE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA HURIWA ON JULY 28th 2008 IN ABUJA Gentlemen of the fourth estate of the realm, you are welcome to this auspicious press briefing by the registered group of Human Rights Activists who are essentially young Nigerians devoted to deploying their creative talents as writers, Philosophers/Deep Thinkers, journalists, and creative entertainers to work for the comprehensive enthronement of the RULE OF LAW, durable Democracy, Respect for the Human Rights of all persons including those in conflict with the law. We wish to humbly inform the world that the immediate past Governor of Cross Rivers State Senator. Lyel Imoke who is the Peoples Democratic Party’s Governorship candidate for the re-run election in Cross Rivers State following the decision of the Appellate Court which voided his popular mandate and ordered a re-run poll, has done so much in the last one year to merit the confidence of the voters in his home State. We are seriously impressed with his excellent Human Rights record which he achieved in the last one calendar year that he presided over the affairs of Cross Rivers State as the Chief Servant. We want to categorically state without any fear of contradiction that our members resident in Cross Rivers State and who were specifically commissioned by our group in partnership with two of our trustees to monitor the Human Rights Records of the immediate past Governor returned an excellent score card in favour of the immediate past Governor and have stated that the majority of the persons interviewed in the different segment of Cross River State did express confidence that they would vote for him in the re-run election scheduled to hold within ninety days in compliance with the directive and order of the Court of Appeal. Our group scores Imoke very good in the areas of Human and capacity development, rural development, Tourism development and Quick dispensation of Justice in the last one year. We want to categorically state that Senator Imoke has comfortably ranked as one of the best Governors’ in Nigeria in the area of pragmatic and practical Human Rights Respect and upliftment of the living condition of the Rural and urban poor. Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria call on all Governors in the country to emulate the shining Human Rights record of Senator Lyel Imoke. We have written to Imoke to ensure that he specifically creates the office of Special Assistant on Human Rights matters to coordinate all issues that dwells on the Human Rights of Cross Riverians when he is eventually re-elected. Similarly we want to use this medium to call on the President and all the Governors to create cabinet level offices of Special Advisers on Human Rights issues to champion the Human Rights concerns of all citizens. Just like other Governors of the Niger Delta States, Senator Imoke in the last one year focused his attention towards achieving rapid rural development of the rural communities which to a large extent has doused the youth restiveness in the area. Senator Imoke also spent a huge chunk of his State’s resources to develop the Educational sector and provided scholarship to indigent students. We believe that the educational, economic empowerment of the youth of the Niger Delta is key to ending the upsurge in violent militancy in the oil rich but heavily neglected region. We make haste to encourage the Federal Government to work in partnership with the state Governments in the oil producing areas to ensure the delivery of these three goals of economic, educational empowerment and rapid rural development. We call on all parties in the Niger Delta to embrace constructive dialogue and reject armed insurrection or intervention. EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO
Question: Sir you recently addressed a press conference where the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria endorsed what you called Excellent Human Rights Record of the immediate past Governor of Cross Rivers State and the Peoples Democratic Party’s Governorship candidate for a re-run election Senator. Lyel Imoke. Tell us about the group you head in Nigeria as National Coordinator and Chief Operating Officer? Gentleman of the forth estate of the realm, Iam Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA. I am a journalist by professional calling and I have practiced the pen profession for sixteen years now. In 2005, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed me and we were consequently sworn in as one of the Federal Commissioners, Governing Council members of the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria [NHRC] for four- year tenure. On behalf our registered Democracy inclined civil society group called Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria which by the Grace of God I head today, I want to thank your media organization for supporting the cause of Human Rights promotion and protection in Nigeria even at great risk to both your self and all your reporters. Back to your question, HURIWA is the registered group of Human Rights Activists who are essentially young Nigerians devoted to deploying their creative talents as writers, Philosophers/Deep Thinkers, journalists, and creative entertainers to work for the comprehensive enthronement of the RULE OF LAW, durable Democracy, Respect for the Human Rights of all persons including those in conflict with the law. We defend both the poor, indigent, oppressed and seriously neglected Nigerian people and citizens of the World resident in Nigeria and also the rich, influential and key stakeholders in the Democracy project of Nigeria who from time to time come under the hammer of some forces bent on destabilizing the cause of delivery of Democracy dividends to Nigerians. It is a fact that even the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua comes under unwarranted verbal attacks from some forces unhappy with any genuine policies whose implementation will significantly improve the living condition of the generality of Nigerians. We know that some forces are bent on perpetuating the current regime of hunger, poverty, want and unemployment so that they can continue to loot our collective resources for their selfish aggrandizements. When we find out that any body in political office wants to implement good programme or is implementing good programmes that are pro-poor, and such a person comes under attack from some people and forces, our group immediately responds in defence of that political office holder irrespective of political affiliation or ethnic orientation. We are non-profit and therefore source for funds from some credible Nigerians from time to time to support the prosecution of these good causes of defending the Human Rights of Nigerians. For now we have never received foreign funds because we believe that Nigerians should also contributing to the fight and struggle to enthrone the regime of respect of the Human Rights of our citizens and all persons in conflict with the law. But we are not opposed to foreign donations or funding if we get it. We have being in existence for eight years now but formerly registered by the Federal Government last year. Our current intervention regarding Imoke is situated under this circumstance because we believe that haven done so well in one year as Governor in the Human Rights sector, some forces not comfortable with the good Human Rights record he has set, wants to make it impossible for him to stand as his party’s candidate in the re-run polls. We are only defending the cause of Human Rights and Democracy and nothing more because we are completely non-political. Question: What are these projects that former Governor Imoke carried out in the last one year before the Court of Appeal quashed his election of April 2007? We wish to humbly inform the world through your Democracy and Development inclined national newspaper that the immediate past Governor of Cross Rivers State Senator. Lyel Imoke who is the Peoples Democratic Party’s Governorship candidate for the re-run election in Cross Rivers State following the decision of the Appellate Court which voided his popular mandate and ordered a re-run poll, has done so much in the last one year to merit the confidence of the voters in his home State. We are seriously impressed with his excellent Human Rights record which he achieved in the last one calendar year that he presided over the affairs of Cross Rivers State as the Chief Servant. We want to categorically state without any fear of contradiction that our members resident in Cross Rivers State and who were specifically commissioned by our group in partnership with two of our trustees to monitor the Human Rights Records of the immediate past Governor returned an excellent score card in favour of the immediate past Governor and have stated that the majority of the persons interviewed in the different segments of Cross River State did express confidence that they would vote for him in the re-run election scheduled to hold within ninety days in compliance with the directive and order of the Court of Appeal. Our group scores Imoke excellent in the areas of Human and capacity development, rural development, Tourism development and Quick dispensation of Justice in the last one year. We want to categorically state that Senator Imoke has comfortably ranked as one of the best Governors’ in Nigeria in the area of pragmatic and practical Human Rights Respect and upliftment of the living condition of the Rural and urban poor. Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria call on all Governors in the thirty five states of the Federation to emulate the shining Human Rights record of Senator Lyel Imoke. Although we must concede that the remaining Governors of the Niger Delta Oil producing States have so far shown practical commitments and will power to deploy their states’ resources to these key socio-economic sectors as was done by immediate past Governor Imoke in their respective States, and we are pretty sure that sooner than later, if these initiatives that are Human Rights friendly are consolidated in these Niger Delta States, then the youth and communal restiveness in the oil producing areas will be sufficiently tackled. Senator Imoke also spent a huge chunk of his State’s resources to develop the Educational sector and provided scholarship to indigent students. Question: But is your group not concerned about the allegations that he Imoke contributed to the problems afflicting the power sector in Nigeria because he was involved in the power sector at the federal level throughout the immediate past PDP Government? We want to say that it is unjust, unfair and preposterous
for any group to hold Senator Lyel Imoke responsible for the poor
power supply situation in Nigeria since he was not the only Nigerian
that held the office of the Minister of Power and steel from 1999
to 2007. Moreover he has clearly presented his score card before
the Federal House of Representatives’ committee which investigated
the alleged application or otherwise of $16 Billion United States
Dollars in the Power sector in the past one decade. We want to say
that it is wrong for some Nigerians to jump into conclusion and
demand the arrest of the immediate past Governor based on a report
that has not been published by the Federal House of Representatives
talk less of being acted upon by the Executive Arm of Government
which is constitutionally empowered to take any action should any
Nigerian be found wanting by any probe panel. More over arresting
a Nigerian or even dragging the person to court does not amount
to sufficient indictment or even an indictment for that matter that
is capable of stopping any qualified Nigerian from contesting any
election in Nigeria. The Supreme Court has ruled in an unprecedented
Judgment that only the competent court of law has the legal power
to make any pronouncement of indictment on any Nigerian brought
before it. Section 6 of the 1999 constitution is very clear on this.
Why should some Nigerians jump into conclusion that if Senator Lyel
Imoke is arrested then the power supply situation will improve?
We urge Nigerians especially the vocal few who have unlimited access
to the media to desist from using their privileged position and
affinity with the Nigerian media to witch hunt other Nigerians.
We are not opposed to any genuine probe findings on the poor electricity
power situation in Nigeria so as to find quick, efficient and result
oriented power supply situation to millions of the long suffering
Nigerians, but the rule of law, fair hearing in compliance with
the Constitutional provisions especially section 36, must be followed.
Witch hunt or politically motivated mob justice is antithetical
to Democracy and the Rule of Law. Let us follow the right cause
of justice and fair play in trying to resolve the poor power situation
and the alleged corrupt practices in the nation’s power sector
so that we can get it right this time around. Let us leave out political
witch hunt and mob justice in this very critical area. Nigeria must
get it right this time around and stop groping in the dark. Justice,
Fair hearing, Fair play must be adopted. HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, HURIWA, a democracy inclined registered coalition of human rights activists yesterday criticized the decision of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua to seek military assistance from Great Britain to fight what it considers as insurgency and militancy in the oil rich but heavily neglected Niger Delta areas. The Rights group said military option is unacceptable, unworkable and will naturally lead to the escalation of civil strife in the crisis ravaged region. Specifically, at a bilateral parley during the just concluded G-8 group of industrialized Nations conference held in Japan, the British Prime Minister Mr. Gordon Brown accepted a plea by the Nigerian President for Britain to offer military assistance to help check the rise in violence and crude oil thefts in the Niger Delta region. As a consequence of the outcome of the parley between the British and Nigerian leaders in Japan, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, the premier militia group in the oil producing areas has reportedly called off a unilateral truce it entered with the Nigerian military manning oil facilities in the region. The Rights group in a statement made available to newsmen and endorsed by its’ National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko advised the federal Government not to give conflicting signals as to the best strategies for resolving the violent conflicts afflicting the oil producing areas even as it asked the Government to remove the root cause of the civil unrests in the areas which is the criminal gross under development of the oil producing areas by successive administrations in Nigeria and in the various Niger Delta States. The group stated that the acceptance of any military assistance no mater how well intentioned and innocuous would be viewed as a declaration of war by the people of the oil producing areas who have endured series of human rights violations and systematic underdevelopment of their communities over the last fifty years since crude oil was discovered in commercial quantity. “Military assistance from Britain or indeed any other foreign government will surely exacerbate the situation in the Niger Delta Region”. According to HURIWA; “The proposed military assistance from the increasingly unpopular Prime Minister of Britain Gordon Brown to Nigeria at this point in time when he [Brown] can not even tackle the increasing Knife crime in the United Kingdom is unacceptable and unwelcome by Nigerians. Why invite foreign military assistance even when the same Government has shown clear signals that it will rather explore non-military option to resolve the crisis in the Niger Delta region?, the group asked . HURIWA stated that it associates itself with the popular view in
Britain that the offer of military assistance to Nigeria by Gordon
Brown will amount to a big misadventure even as it called for rapid
and comprehensive infrastructural development of the oil producing
areas as the best panacea to the crisis. The Rights group called
on armed militants in the oil rich Niger Delta to disarm and dialogue
constructively with the Federal Government and for the Government
to begin the construction of infrastructures that will improve the
living condition of the populace because according to HURIWA, peaceful,
meaningful and constructive dialogues are the best solution to the
problems afflicting the Niger Delta. |
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