HURIWA ENDORSE RECALL OF SOKOTO GOVERNOR

A democracy friendly Non-Governmental organization-HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS' ASSOCIAITON OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has applauded the decision of the national hierarchy of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to invalidate the suspension for alleged disrespect to constituted authority of the Sokoto State governor-Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamako.

The Rights group said the decision to reinstate the Sokoto State governor was wise since the reason for his suspension was not only trivial but seriously violate extant provisions of the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Besides, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS' ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) said the unilateral decision of few members of the party's national executive council to so suspend the Sokoto State governor without given him the opportunity for fair hearing was an irredeemable and grave violation of relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) including section 36(5) on fair hearing and the Right to freedom of association enshrined in chapter four.

The Development focused organization also urged the President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to provide needed leadership cohesion in his party since according to the organization, the seemingly unending intra-party squabble in the ruling party at the national level, affects the pace of development and curtail effective delivery of democracy dividends to Nigerians who gave the party overwhelming mandate in the 2011 general elections.

HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS' ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) made these observations in a media statement following its national meeting and endorsed jointly by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National media Director, Miss. Zainab Yusuf.

HURIWA Stated: “While acknowledging that as a political platform made up of rational persons of divergent opinions and views, the Peoples Democratic Party's national hierarchy escalated the tension in the party by the arbitrary and unilateral suspension of the governor of Sokoto State based on very tepid reason of alleged disrespect of the governor to the office of the national chairman of PDP. We are happy that good reason has prevailed leading to the invalidation of the bad and unsustainable decision of suspending governor Wamakko known to have significantly contributed to political stability in the North West region of Nigeria”.

HURIWA also urged the National Executive Council of the PDP to comply with an earlier decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to properly elect the national leadership just as it called on the national chairman of the party and other national officials affected by the directive of the electoral commission to resign forthwith so as not to undermine the independence of INEC.

The group canvassed greater deepening of internal democracy in all the registered political parties as the essential elements of promoting enduring democratic values and respect for the sanctity of the fundamental human rights of the citizenry as encapsulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; African charter on human and peoples Rights and chapter four of the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 [as amended].