WORRYING SIGNALS FROM ENUGU

Source: thewillnigeria.com

While engaging in regional advocacy activities in the South Eastern States not too long ago, two major human rights issues confronted us and these are the sudden unprecedented re-emergence of illegal police check-points and the rapidly declining and shrinking democratic space in the run up to next year's elections which is only few months away.

These seemingly rascally unconstitutional tendencies and the activities of some persons we may classify as these animals called 'human' are evidently present in other parts of the Country but the level of depravity and indiscipline displayed by the erring police operatives mounting illegal and money extorting check-points in the South East is beyond human imagination.

The appointment of the new acting Inspector General of police Mr. Suleiman Abba and his decision to erect check-points in some Northern states which constitute the frontline areas of the terrorists' activities seems to have provided the lee way for the resurgence in police check-points all over the country after the exit of the immediate past Inspector General Mr. Abubakar Mohammed whose only tangible achievement was the banning of police check-points which in any case are avenues for extortion of commuters and commercial motorists and the perpetration of all manner of human rights violations such as tortures and extrajudicial executions of suspected offenders and even innocent citizens.

Amnesty International, the United Kingdom-based Non-Governmental body is soon to release a comprehensive report on their findings concerning the widespread practice of torture as a mechanism of law enforcement by police and other military operatives all across Nigeria.

On the aspect of the rapidly shrinking democratic frontiers in the South East and the increasing manifestation of tyranny by state governors, the case of Enugu is notorious going by the widely repudiated unconstitutional impeachment of the deputy governor Mr. Onyebuchi Chukwu on the nebulous charge of rearing chickens within the premises of his official residence.

There are widespread cases of suppression of fundamental freedoms of expression and free assembly constitutionally guaranteed by Chapter four of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended).

A radio station in Enugu privately linked to the person of the Deputy Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Senator Ike Ekweremadu is the latest to come under Enugu state sponsored attacks and harassment.

Specifically, Senator Ekweremadu, the most senior and most experienced politician of South East extraction is rumoured to either be interested in vying for the office of governor of Enugu state or to stage a comeback to retain his seat which is reportedly coveted by supporters of the two term governor Mr. Sullivan Chime who is also rumoured to be interested in running for the same senate position after his mandatory second and final tenure as state Chief executive terminates on May 29th 2015.

From the above, it is easy to interpret that the Deputy Senate President and the Enugu state governor are in fundamental disagreement on the critical question of who the next governor to succeed Mr. Sullivan Chime would be or who will occupy the senate seat now in the full control of the holder Senator Ekweremadu.

The Enugu state governor decreed recently that all those who have tested power in the National Assembly since the last two dispensations must give way and retire for fresh hands to also contest to represent the people. This unilateral decision shows that state governors have this make belief that they are thin gods.

For political neophytes, this decision may sound plausible but to imagine that the Enugu state governor who has continuously remained in one political office or the other since over a decade will now issue an unconstitutional edict to bar citizens from running for their choice offices only to create the slots for himself (the incumbent governor] and his cronies is highly undemocratic and illegal. But what is the position of the law regarding who should seek elective positions?

The constitution is absolutely against discrimination and so the unilateral decision by the Enugu State governor on who should seek elective positions come the 2015 election is against section 42[1]. Section 40 of the constitution which speaks to the issue of protection of the Freedom of Assembly and association and Right to Freedom of movement contemplated under section 41 also makes it illegal for the police to be used to violently stop peaceful demonstrators in Enugu State.

Under the platform of good governance and transparency coalition, my organization and 36 others conducted an opinion poll and came up with the following points which go to show that in the human rights sector, Enugu is the only state in southern Nigeria yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act. No Local Council is headed democratically by any woman. Then there is this widely celebrated separation case involving the Enugu State governor and his estrange wife-Mrs. Clara Chime, an issue which is very notorious. The people interviewed are demanding the immediate domestication of this important bill of right to promote the well being of the Nigerian children.

On Transparency and due process we found out that the Enugu State govt does not believe in due process in procurement. Most projects in the state are allegedly executed with what they call “Direct Labour” through the Project Development Inspection. Big time projects like the N13 billion new state secretariat under construction were allegedly awarded to Arab contractors.

Anti-graft agencies are reportedly investigating the inflated cost of the project aforementioned. The former accountant general (Mrs Eunice Ugwu) who allegedly told the EFCC that the real project cost was N8 Billion and not the N13 Billion approved by the State assembly was reportedly demoted to Permanent Secretary of State Civil Commission.

The Secretariat was allegedly reduced from 6 to 2 storey building once the money was allegedly cleared into the account of Arab contractors and allegedly diverted. These damaging allegations must be probed and any money diverted recovered, so say our respondents.

On the key aspect of respect for the constitutional principle of Rule of Law on the question of chicken impeachment and also the matter involving the then top government official- Mrs. Ethel Nebo-Ezeabasili reportedly illegally removed for raising eyes brow over alleged shady deals involving some key figures in the current Enugu State government.

It would be recalled that an Enugu high court DECLARED her removal unlawful and awarded a N10 million damages against the State and N100 thousand in costs. A permanent Secretary from Awgu/Aninri axis was also demoted to a Deputy Director for refusing to sign Stakeholders (PDP people in Chime government) media attack on Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

Also, the poll we conducted sought opinion of Nigerians on the chicken impeachment-whether it was constitutional and in good faith. And how they rate Governor Chime on democratic credentials based on this and a plethora of examples. Most respondents were unanimous in rejecting the illegal and unconstitutional broad-day brigandage against democracy perpetrated by the near-rubber stamped state assembly in unseating the then deputy governor who they also suspect to be closely linked to the Deputy Senate President- Senator Ekweremadu. Good governance does not thrive in an atmosphere of personality cult and ego trips. Democracy is all about checks and balances but in Enugu State the State Governor operates like an Emperor and whomsoever that does not genuflect to him politically is seen to be against him. What are the human Rights provisions under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights regarding the right of all citizens to participate constructively in the governance of their society?

Under Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [UDHR] that globally respected human rights instrument states that 'everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives'. For the Enugu State governor to demonize all those citizens of that State that identify with the lawful activities of the person and office of the Deputy Senate President is not only a flagrant breach of the Nigerian Constitution but is also a wanton abridgement of the internationally guaranteed human rights under several binding international humanitarian laws. These signals from the Enugu State executive and legislative arms of government are antithetical to the growth and advancement of democracy, respect for the human rights of citizens and respect for the principle of the Rule of Law which are necessary ingredients for any sustainable democratic culture. Besides, the Igbo speaking people are reputable for their egalitarian and democratic credentials even from Ancient traditions and so it is shocking beyond comprehension that in this 21st century political office holders are abusing their official privileges and powers in carrying out diverse campaign of calumny against perceived political opponents.

Emmanuel Onwubiko, Heads Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria

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