Constitute human rights board now: - HURIWA to Buhari

The refusal for over two years to reconstitute the governing council of the nation’s premier human rights monitoring institution – National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by president Muhammadu Buhari clearly signposts an administration that has no regard for the human rights  of the citizenry.

HURIWA said that beyond the manifestation of very poor human rights record of the Muhammadu Buhari's administration in the last three and half years, the rubbishing of the National Human Rights Commission could backfire in such a way that it may be downgraded in status internationally by the United Nations  Human  rights  council because for any national human rights institution to enjoy top global rating it must be independent in terms of management and operations which the lack of a statutory governing board has denied the National Human Rights Commission as it is currently.
Besides, the rights group believes that the lack of a governing board has crippled the institution and has denied it of the global statute as an independent, impartial and courageous ombudsman for the promotion and protection of the fundamental rights of all citizens as clearly spelt out in the universal declarations of human rights, African charter on peoples and human rights and the Nigerian constitution.

HURIWA accused president Buhari of undermining the independence of the rights institution by allowing it to operate for over two years without a “Soul” just as the agency has now been reduced in the estimation of government as a mere government agency as against the clear provisions of the statutory Act setting up the institution which grants it operational and funding autonomy.
HURIWA recalled that the Governing Council of the Commission is so important legally to an extent that the enabling Act states that there shall be for the Commission a Governing Council (in this Act referred to as “the Council”) which shall be responsible for the discharge of the functions of the Commission.

HURIWA  said the National Human Rights Commission cannot function optimally because the enabling law clearly  states that the governing g council shall be responsible for the discharge of the functions of the Commission which is legally empowered to Deal with all matters relating to the protection of human rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other International Treaties on human rights to which Nigeria is a signatory; monitor and investigate all alleged cases of human rights violation in Nigeria and make appropriate recommendation to the President for the prosecution and such other actions as it may deem expedient in each circumstance; assist victims of human rights violation and seek appropriate redress and remedies on their behalf; undertake studies on all matters pertaining to human rights and assist the Federal Government in the formulation of appropriate policies on the guarantee of human rights; publish, from time to time, reports on the state of human rights protection in Nigeria; organize local and international seminars, workshops and conferences on human rights issues for public enlightenment; liaise and co-operate with local and international organizations on human rights with the purpose of advancing the promotion and protection of human rights; participate in all international activities relating to the promotion and protection of human rights; maintain a library, collect data and disseminate information and materials on human rights generally; and carry out all such other functions as are necessary or expedient for the performance of its functions under this Act.

Human right activist condemns Revocation Of Orji Kalu’s Bail

The national coordinator, Human Right Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA), Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko on Tuesday condemned the federal high court decision to revoke bail of the former governor of Abia state, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu.

Onwubiko who spoke in an interview with the media in Abuja said the court should have considered the Nigerian constitution as he was unwell and went for surgery in Germany.

According to him, “The last hearing that took place in federal high court, the judge has revoked the bail and that is very unfair. It doesn’t make sense. I am not the part of that case so I have my right to exercise my freedom of speech but speaking as a Nigerian, we should be passionate.”

It will be recalled that hearing in Kalu’s trial was stalled in November due to the absence of the former governor from court, leading to the revocation of his bail.

The human right activist added that Kanu went for surgery so the judge should have exercised some patience before revoking the bail. “What does it take for the court to send a spy team to the hospital to find out whether he was truly there or not. Why should a court revoke the bail of someone who is undergoing surgery, supposing the man has information before he enters the surgery and die in the process, would the judge be happy is unfortunate,” he added.

He further blamed some set of Nigerians who are all over on social media condemning Karu chiefly because he is an Igbo man and is campaigning for Buhari.

Counter Terrorism as a Collective War By Emmanuel Onwubiko

Nigeria has assumed the notorious position of the third most impacted terrorism afflicted sovereign nation globally just after Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In its report: “Changing patterns in terrorism and the threat to business” Control Risks, the specialist global risk consultancy, finds that the number of incidents rose from 317 in 2013 to 1,549 for the period of April 2017 to April 2018.

The researchers also discovered a shocking variable which goes to show that while some of the attacks are inspired by the so-called Islamic State that loses its grip in its Middle Eastern heartland, the drivers behind this rise in sub-Saharan Africa are more complex. I must confess that as a civil society activist with considerable passion for the meticulous study of the diverse ramifications of the growing global trends of terrorism, the resurgence of armed attacks by these terrorist elements in the North East of Nigeria portends even much more sinister dimension than this report envisaged.  Lets keep reading the report which narrates the ever growing notoriety attained by Boko Haram terrorists who started off as mere ragtag Isamists to the current global position as the third World's deadliest terrorists.

As aforementioned, Jean Devlin, Partner and Head of African Analysis at Control Risks, explains: “Many factors lie behind this, including the local dynamics of long-standing conflicts and insurgencies. In East and West Africa, the increase in attacks has several drivers: Although security forces in affected countries have for the most part been able to reduce the capability of militant groups to hold onto and control territory, this has pushed them to engage in asymmetric warfare against civilian ‘soft targets’. Security forces are struggling to comprehensively degrade the capability of these groups, and as a result the threat is proving resilient despite gains made.”
In West Africa, where 36 per cent of the incidents were reported, Nigeria suffered most (220 incidents), followed by Mali (194) and Cameroon (96), the researchers affirmed. 

The researchers disclosed that they also looked at all types of terrorist activity, government, military and security forces, and their installations typically top target lists across the world.

Their analyses revealed that retail and road top the list of civilian sectors affected by Islamist militancy globally – something that is mirrored in sub-Saharan Africa where vehicles and road infrastructure such as bridges are most targeted, particularly in Nigeria, Mali, Kenya and Somalia.

Targeting these areas they reasoned, allows Islamist militants to hit civilians and government/ security forces alike, as the latter congregate in the respective facilities or use the infrastructure for movements. If this report isn't frightening enough then wait for another emerging discovery which not only confirm the lack of inter agencies' synergies in the ongoing counter terror war but disclosed an entirely apocalyptic scenario that indicted some security agents in the fueling of these terror attacks that have become much deadlier.

On December 11^th 2018, an investigation by The Next Edition, an online newspaper, reported that Nigerian security operatives are significantly sabotaging the government’s efforts to eliminate Boko Haram as they aid the funneling of huge volumes of petrol and other fuel products to the deadly group.

The newspaper, in its week-long investigation, reports that soldiers, police, customs, immigration and civil defense operatives frequently receive bribes and turn a blind eye as fuel marketers and smugglers divert truckloads of petrol and foodstuff to Boko Haram enclaves in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

During interviews with security operatives, marketers and undercover exploration of the dark market, the newspaper obtained details of the well-coordinated transactions and is able to provide a glimpse into a largely unreported and unregulated operation that has clearly fed the insurgency in the Northeast and helped prolonged the nine-year war. This frightening investigative findings were corroborated by a very senior military who told me in a private conversation today thus: "Emmanuel, if you noticed that for three years we have consistently pushed back these terrorists and stopped them from ever gaining control of any of our territories and now there is a resurgence of attacks, it goes to show that there is a problem which can't be blamed on the leadership of the military". I agree. Chinua Achebe typically narrated that Nigeria's problem is fundamentally that of poor leadership but in the area of the counter terrorism war, the leadership of the military have shown the greatest degree of leadership excellence.  I do think that the political leaders must stop frustrating the war on terror. I think the releases of boko haram terrorists in the guise of being repentant fighters does more harm and fuels further attacks. The failure to sufficiently prosecute terrorists amounts to a violation of international law which i will establish in the following citations from one of the most professionally and professorially written texts.

The book states: “A twin-track approach has been adopted, dealing both with particular manifestations of terrorists activity and with a general condemnation of the phenomenon. In so far as the first is concerned, the UN has currently adopted fourteen international conventions (and four amendments) concerning terrorism, dealing with issues such as hijacking, hostages and terrorist bombings. Many of these conventions operate on a common model, establishing the basis of quasi-universal jurisdiction with an interlocking network of international obligations."

The author also stated that: "The model comprises a definition of the offence in question and the automatic incorporation of such offences within all extradition agreements between states parties coupled with obligations on states parties to make this offence an offence in domestic law, to establish jurisdiction over this offence (usually where committed in the territory of the state or on board a ship or aircraft registered there, or by a national of that state or on a discretionary basis in some conventions where nationals of that state have been victims) and, where the alleged offender is present in the territory, either to prosecute or to extradite to another state that will.” As can be seen clearly, the failure to prosecute terrorists is fueling the resurgence of armed attacks by these terrorists.
I say the above because as established in this book on international law bring quoted, we are told that: “In addition, the UN has sought to tackle the question of terrorism in a comprehensive fashion. In December 1972, the General Assembly set up an ad-hoc committee on terrorism and in 1994 a Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism was adopted."

This the author reminds us, condemned ‘all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomever committed’, noting that ‘criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group or person or persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstance unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or any other nature that may be invoked to justify them’.

The author who is a renowned British Professor of law and a top flight litigation lawyer maintained that States are also obliged to refrain from organizing, instigating, facilitating, financing or tolerating terrorist activities and to take practical measures to ensure that their territories are not used for terrorist installations, training camps or for the preparation of terrorist acts against other states".

"States are further obliged to apprehend and prosecute or extradite perpetrators of terrorists acts and to co-operate with other states in exchanging information and combating terrorism,” (From the book “International Law” Seventh Edition by MALCOLM N. SHAW).

As can be deciphered from the citations of international laws, a question would then become imperative: how come the Nigerian political authority has not transparently provided the needed sophisticated combat weapons to soldiers even when Nigeria has a professionally competent and patriotic military hierarchy?

The Nigerian political authority should therefore be told to do the needful to ensure that the resilient Nigerian military, who have successfully maintained the highest control of all our territory and keeping away terrorists in the last three years of taking over any territory, are motivated much more  adequately equipped. I admit that our military have fought in a gallantry fashion with the weapons at their disposals, they need to be much more equipped and motivated to decapitate these terrorists. All Nigerians must support this counter terror war. 

This is so because although it is the constitutional duty of the armed forces to maintain and safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity, the few setbacks recorded so far in the battle fields leading to some casualties on the part of the Nigerian soldiers, should stimulate in all of us as citizens the inherently existential need to support our military and to truly see the ongoing terror war as a collective assignment by all citizens to restore normalcy and peace.

A broad reading of section 14 (1) of the constitution supports my assertion that the counter terror war should be seen as everybody’s duty. That section encourages us to support the military.

Specifically, section 14 (1) stated thus: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a state based on the principles of democracy and social justice. It is hereby, accordingly, declared that – Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this constitution derives all its powers and authority; the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government; and the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provision of this constitution.”

The call for citizens support of the counter insurgency war is further boosted by the story emanating today that the United States has tagged the terrorist group, Boko Haram, as one of the “entities of particular concern”.

The U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo in a statement also listed alongside Boko Haram other groups including ISIS, Al-Nura front, Al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula, Al-Qa’ida, Al-Shabab, the Houthis, Isis-Khorasan, and the Taliban as entities of particular concern.

China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, were also designated as countries of particular concern.

The US top diplomat in the statement explained that the listed countries have engaged in or tolerated what it describes as systematic violations of religious freedom under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.

“In far too many places across the globe, individuals continue to face harassment, arrests, or even death for simply living their lives in accordance with their beliefs. The united states will not stand by as spectators in the face of such oppression,” the statement read in part.

According to him, protecting religious freedom is vital to ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity across the world.

Mr. Pompeo also regretted that in far too many places across the globe, individuals continue to face harassment, arrests, or even death for simply living their lives in accordance with their beliefs.

“The United States will not stand by as spectators in the face of such oppression. Protecting and promoting international religious freedom is a top foreign policy priority of the Trump Administration.

“In July, I hosted the first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, which brought together some 85 like-minded governments and more than 400 civil society organizations to harness global attention and motivate forceful action to advance respect for the human right of religious freedom,” he added.

Pompeo also reiterated the commitment of the United States to working with governments, civil society organizations, and religious leaders to advance religious freedom around the world.

Conclusively, we as citizens must bury our ideological differences and view the counter insurgency war not as the exclusive duty of the hard working and resilient Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai or the other service chiefs or the combatants but we must look at their effort to eradicate threats of armed terrorism as a collective responsibility for the sake of our Children and the coming generations. Lets do this to preserve our future. This is not the time for politics but time to rescue our nation. Let's support our combatants and the military hierarchy and pray for their success in line with best global practices.

*Emmanuel Onwubiko is head of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and blogs @ www.emmanuelonwubiko.com; www.huriwanigeria.com; www.thenigerianinsidernews.com; www.huriwa.blogspot.com.

How Can South East Work Again? By Emmanuel Onwubiko & CliffGrace Obilor

We will like to begin by recalling the exact prophetic proclamations made by Professor Chinua Achebe, of blessed memory, who in the early 1980’s recorded what can be called the exact poetic representation of the Igbo nation in a book titled “The Trouble With Nigeria.” His claims are of the highest empirical proofs.

His words: “A distinguished political scientist from a “minority” area of the south pronounce some years ago that Nigeria has an Igbo problem. Every ethnic group is of course something of a problem for Nigeria’s easy achievement of cohesive nationhood, but the learned professor no doubt saw the Igbo as a particular irritant, a special thorn in the flesh of the Nigerian body-politic.”

Achebe who also penned one of the best read novel titled Things Fall Apart, further argued in that tiny book called The Trouble with Nigeria that: “Nigerians of all other ethnic groups will probably achieve consensus on no other matter than their common resentment of the Igbo. They would all describe them as aggressive, arrogant and clannish. Most would add grasping and greedy (although the performance of the Yoruba since the end of the Civil War has tended to put the prize for greed in some doubt!).”

This he reasoned is because “Modern Nigerian history has been marked by sporadic eruptions of anti-Igbo feeling of more or less serious import; but it was not until 1966 – 7 when it swept through Northern Nigeria like “a flood of deadly hate” that the Igbo first questioned the concept of Nigeria which they had embraced with much greater fervor than the Yoruba or the Hausa/Fulani.”

Achebe made a very rational affirmation about a significant human factor that can be considered as the greatest drawback to the lack of infrastructural advancement and socio-economic sustainable development of the Igbo South East when he wrote about the last civil war which took place over half a century ago which left devastations in its wake in the Eastern region as it then was and was never reconstructed after the war. His words: “The Civil War gave Nigeria a perfect and legitimate excuse to cast the Igbo in the role of treasonable felon, a wrecker of the nation. But thanks to Gowon’s moderating influence overt vengeance was not visited on them when their secessionist state of Biafra was defeated in January 1970. But there were hard-liners in Gowon’s cabinet who wanted their pound of flesh, the most powerful among them being Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Federal Commissioner for Finance. Under his guidance a banking policy was evolved which nullified any bank account which had been operated during the Civil War. This had the immediate result of pauperizing the Igbo middle class and earning a profit of £4 million for the Federal Government Treasury.”

One fact Achebe never mentioned may be for want of spacebars that in modern history of warfare, it is a war crime and a crime against humanity for a post war sanctions such as the nullification of the accounts of all Easterners as was done by the then Nigerian government under the guidance of the late Obafemi Awolowo who read law in the United Kingdom. 

However, this erudite man of letters who spent decades teaching White man's language in different American universities, Professor Achebe just before his triumphant exit in a blaze of glory, also recorded detailed situation report about the state of the Igbo speaking South East of Nigeria in his last book titled “There Was a Country.” He forgot to also mention that behind the issues of gross infrastructure poverty imposed on the South East of Nigeria, one of the causes can be attributed to corruption and avarice of some privileged Igbo politicians who would lobby to attract projects to the South East of Nigeria but will simply collect mobilization money for those projects and disappear into thin air or even render poor jobs which inflict sufferings of unquantifiable and  unjustifiable dimensions on the over 50 million Igbo speaking citizens of Nigeria who live in geopolitical region of South East of Nigeria. 

Before we forget, please recall that the South East is a geopolitical zone in Nigeria which comprises of five Igbo states that contains about 60 million people.

Having been in South East and toured around the states for so many years, It can be found out that the Igbo land is blessed with Natural Resources which includes: crude oil, natural gas, lead, zinc, rubber tree, oil palm etc.

On several occasions, we have asked questions like “ARE WE REALLY DOING GREAT IN SOUTH EAST” when it comes to the health sector, security standard, politics, infrastructure, education and agriculture , the answer is NO, we are not doing great . Now the question is HOW CAN SOUTH EAST WORK AGAIN?

There are pertinent steps which should be taken by the south east governments and the stakeholders in order to develop south East of Nigeria into an economic hub to attract Igbos and foreigners to invest substantially within the south East of Nigeria.

The south East governments should try as much as possible to look into the health sectors because from  research it be found that most places here in Igbo land lack good hospitals, while some areas don’t even have health centers talk more of hospitals, in one of our discoveries, there was a case where some individuals have to look for a hospital to drop an accident victim but all their efforts prove abortive, before they could locate a hospital the individual have already passed out and all these should be taken care of by the government and stakeholders in south east because it aids in discouraging most of our Igbo brothers from coming back home to invest because they have this feeling that they won’t receive the qualified treatment to any problem they have once they are in south east.

We are all aware of how politics is being played here in South East, it is all about greed and so many of us don’t feel secured when matters concerning politics is being raised and before we can attract our brothers to come back here for investment we must make sure that everything concerning politics is at equilibrium because they will have the mindset that their investments won’t be safe here as a result of the POLITICAL SAGA that goes on here in south east.

Looking at the security standard here in south east, it is a horrible thing to talk about, here in Igbo land the security standard is very poor, and you don’t expect people to come home and invest when the security standard is already in a mess, because the security authorities don’t actually channel their attention towards the work they are supposed to do and every individual suffers as a result of that, their only interest is on the money which will come out from each case there by making it not so possible for a poor man to get justice and when justice can’t be given to the right people, the crime level increases. So all hands should be on deck to fight the poor nature of our security here in Igbo land, the government should device a possible means of arresting the situation.

Whenever any of us in the South East of Nigeria remembers the infrastructure sector of the south easterners, it baffles us a lot because the whole South East is underdeveloped when compared to the neighboring states, south east lack the basic infrastructural development.

The stakeholders and the governments of south east should come together and make provision for adequate infrastructure like companies, good industries and also restructure the old ones like Ceramics, Golden Guinea and the rest of them and this will in turn create employment opportunities for the individuals it will also give room for seriousness amongst the Igbo youths who move around causing and creating problems in the south east environment. Good infrastructure will also attract foreign investors south east not just our Igbos.

South east cannot be a hub to attract Igbo investors if the Educational sector is not given proper attention, education here in Igbo land is in a mess, the students suffer greatly as a result of nonpayment of salaries of their teachers and lecturers and this is as a result of the nonchalant attitude of the south East leaders, most of the government primary/ secondary schools suffer greatly thereby making the teachers feel so lousy over their jobs at the end of the day the students won’t understand what they have been taught. If only there will be a step up in the education sector, most of the Igbos will come down here not just to invest but also to allow their kids school here.

Currently, our brothers who stay in the northern parts of the country have refused to come back home due to the level of attention given to agriculture here in Igbo land, so many Igbos are not really showing interest in agriculture owning to the fact that the government are yet to provide machines suitable for the work and at the end of the day the individuals find the work so difficult and this will in turn increase the cost of living because only few individuals have shown interest in agriculture. Agriculture is very important because it is one of the basic things that attract investors, our government and the ministry of agriculture here in south east must have to work hard to make sure that agriculture survives here in south east.

It is strongly believed that south east can work again, if only our leaders will put away greed and wickedness in whatever thing they are doing and if they can realize that they are there to protect our interest. South east can work again if our leaders will decide to develop our infrastructure, if they can develop the agriculture, if they can provide us with quality health centers, good security standard and also make good use of our natural resources all these will turn south east of Nigeria into an economic hub and at the end of the day it will attract our Igbo brothers who prefer to invest in Lagos and Abuja to come over here and invest.

The ball is therefore on the courts of all those seeking for elective positions to represent the South East of Nigeria to realistically arm themselves with actionable blueprints on how to re-develop the South East of Nigeria  and make the geopolitical region to once more start to function optimally much better than as it was just before the civil war.

It is instructive to state that the National Assembly and the Presidency post 2019 election should develop a Marshall plan  to reconstruct the major infrastructures in the South East of Nigeria that were ruined by the effects and consequences of the 30-Months long bombardment of the then Eastern region of Nigeria during the civil war. Post-civil war reconstruction was never done and it is not too late to make amends. Also there was never any post-civil demining of South East of Nigeria by the central government. This is another crime against humanity.

*Emmanuel Onwubiko and CliffGrace Obilor wrote in from Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and blogs @ www.emmanuelonwubiko.com; www.huriwanigeria.com; www.thenigerianinsidernews.com; www.huriwa.blogspot.com.

Human Rights Milestones of Nigeria Army By Emmanuel Onwubiko

On December 10th 2018, I breezed into the expansive headquarters of the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Yakubu Gowon way in the heart of the sprawling Maitama District in the Federal Capital Territory. That place is a like a home by the virtue of my fond association as a member of the then governing board that began and completed it whilst i served as a Federal Commissioner for five years during the President Olusegun Obasanjo’s era. So going to the commission is a sort of a pilgrimage.

My appearance however on this auspicious  occasion was to honour a personal invitation extended to me by one of the most phenomenal Nigerian lawyers that has once headed the over 25 year old National Human Rights Commission – Mr. Bukhari Bello.

The Kebbi born Bukhari Bello is a lawyer who recently left the service of the Federal Civil service as a top director in the Federal ministry of Finance.

During his stint as the Director General of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), yours faithfully truly saw in him a patriotic Nigerian who is deeply committed towards deepening the ideals of the universal declarations of Human Rights just as he exercised his official duties with resilience, diligence, professional competency and candour and left phenomenal marks in the sands of time. He it was who vigorously defended the independence of the National Human Rights Commission to a very dangerous extent that the then Justice minister Bayo Ojo (SAN) violated the statutory provisions setting up the commission by relieving him of his office barely a year into his second term of 5 years. Incidentally, the next government breached several provisions of the NHRC Act. Till date the Federal government still abuse the law setting up the commission by failing to constitute the governing body. Buhari Bello has however remained a prominent figure in the organized human rights in the Country.

So it was due to his many landmarks achievements whilst in office as the executive secretary of the National Human Rights Commission that the current manager of the institution decided to immortalize him and applaud him for those salient feats. So yours faithfully was at the venue for less than splitting seconds because I considered it a top priority to be there even when I had too many competing demands with an ongoing writing contract that I am battling to complete before the deadline of December ending.

It was exactly after I stepped out of the premises of the rights commission that it occurred to me that I had just received an alert of a breaking story in which the international criminal court in the Hague Netherlands reportedly confirmed that it has established certain elements of war crimes committed by both the armed boko haram terrorists and by Nigeria’s professional soldiers. The Chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai however strongly disagrees and believed that professional soldiers have died in the ongoing counter terror war in the North East of Nigeria so as to preserve the human rights of Nigerians.

In another breath, the ICC confirmed that it was making effort to ascertain what internal steps are been adopted by Nigerian state to investigate and treat those allegations. To this, the Army said it has done a lot to redress any of the reported cases of human rights violations.

I will return to the international criminal court’s story but let me also state that I am satisfied with the robust response the Nigerian Army has made regarding the mainstreaming of respect of human rights in internal military operations.

The chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai established the first ever nation-wide remedial and redress institution that tackles the issues of human rights violations committed by the military.

Yours faithfully has studied the Human Rights department of the Nigerian Army and can report authoritatively that salient landmarks and phenomenal milestones in the area of promotion and protection of fundamental human rights of Nigerians have been attained under the watch of the professional soldier and General – Tukur Yusuf Buratai.

I must admit that there remain so many challenges that ought to be drastically addressed before we can relax and sing praises to the Nigerian Army as a national institution that fundamentally respects human rights. But if we must be fair and objective, General Buratai deserves some loud accolades.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) thinks differently and says Nigerian security forces (NSF) have committed war crimes against humanity.

In a report sent to TheCable, the ICC said it has received “a total of 169 communications” from Nigeria and its assessment has shown that security forces in Nigeria have committed war crimes varying from murder, torture, and intentionally attacking the civilian population.

“Specifically, the Office found a reasonable basis to believe that the NSF committed the war crimes of murder pursuant to article 8(2)(c)(i); torture, cruel treatment pursuant to article 8(2)(c)(i); outrages upon personal dignity pursuant to article 8(2)(c)(ii); and intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population,” the ICC said.

Fatou Bensouda, the ICC prosecutor, in her annual report on preliminary examination activities (2018), also said the ICC found reasonable basis to believe that Boko Haram also committed war crimes against humanity.

“Furthermore, the Office found a reasonable basis to believe that Boko Haram committed the war crimes of murder pursuant to article 8(2)(c)(i); cruel treatment pursuant to article 8(2)(c)(i) and outrages upon personal dignity pursuant to article 8(2)(c)(ii)”.

The ICC added that Boko Haram was “intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population or against individual civilians pursuant to article 8(2)(e)(i); intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to education and to places of worship and similar institutions pursuant to article 8(2)(e)(iv); pillaging a town or place pursuant to article 8(2)(e)(v); rape, sexual slavery and sexual violence pursuant to article 8(2)(e)(vi)”.

The office of the prosecutor added that the ICC met with Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s minister of justice and attorney general of the federation (AGF), to further investigate eight potential cases of war crimes against humanity.

ICC says several “files pertaining to alleged violations by members of the army were submitted to the Office (of the prosecutor). These files relate to a limited extent to the two potential cases identified by the Office”.

“Of the 27 files provided to the Office, 24 either lacked information to determine their relevance for the admissibility assessment or did not appear relevant.

The ICC complained that “other information specifically requested by the Office which was assessed to be potentially relevant to the admissibility assessment has yet to be provided by the Nigerian authorities”.

The criminal court added since 2017, the Nigerian authorities appear to have “taken concrete steps toward fulfilling their primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute ICC crimes”.

“While there seems to be a tangible prospect of further proceedings against members of Boko Haram, including high-level commanders, at this stage the same cannot be said of the NSF, in particular since the Nigerian authorities tend to deny any allegation against the latter.

“While acknowledging the cooperation of the Nigerian authorities in the course of the preliminary examination, the Office will require, for the purpose of expediting its complementarity assessment, further information and evidence
demonstrating that relevant national proceedings are being or intended to be conducted without delay”.

The ICC made these findings about the same time that a team of researchers from Human rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) made the following findings based on scientifically tested and proven interview process with the military General incharge of the civil and military relations department which houses the Nigerian Army’s Human rights desk. Below are our findings in a question and answer format. Happy reading.

QUESTION 1. What is the essence of establishing the Human Rights Desk of the Nigerian Army?

ANSWER: To discuss the essence of the Human Rights Desk of the Nigerian Army, there is need to first give a little background of the desk. The Nigerian Army Human Right Desk was established under the Army Headquarters Department of Civil Military Affairs on the 17 of February 2016 by the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai in response to alleged human rights violations by troops of the Nigerian Army both in Counter Terrorism/Counter Insurgency and Internal Security Operations in the country. These allegations range from extra-judicial killings, torture, unlawful arrest and detention etc. The main essence of establishing the Nigerian Army Human Rights Desk is to receive and facilitate investigations of human rights abuses against military personnel. The Desk is also required to speedily treat allegations of human rights abuses against troops and to recommend the appropriate action(s) to be taken. In addition to that, the desk is also saddled with the responsibility of facilitating greater Civil-Military Cooperation and collaboration with various stakeholders. The mission of the Human Rights Desk is to project a professionally responsive Nigerian Army through human rights collaboration with the civil populace. In essence, the desk is out to curb human rights violations and to arrive at an amicable settlement.

QUESTION 2. What impact has the office made so far and how many petitions have you handled?

ANSWER: The Human Rights Desk made a lot of positive impact since its inception in 2016 and has so far has treated over 230 complaints. The Desk as a matter of routine engages in sensitization of troops in all Nigerian Army formations and schools on human rights and humanitarian laws and the need to observe them during operations. These have drastically reduced the cases of human rights complaints recorded at the Desk. Among the over 230 petitions we have recorded, over 80 percent has been treated, about 10% was unsubstantiated and the remaining 10 percent is still under investigation. We also render progress report to the appropriate superior authority accordingly. The efforts put in place in addition to our collaboration with stakeholders such as the National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Bar Association, etc, have led to tremendous commendations and feedback especially from numerous complainants and those affected who have also thanked the Chief of Army Staff for establishing the Human Rights Desk. It is noteworthy that our activities receive wide coverage. For instance, Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs host a weekly programme on Army Forces Radio Service FM 107.7 called civil-military Hours every Wednesday
from 1030 – 1130 am where the audience is enlightened on the activities of the Nigerian Army especially as it affects the civil populace. Issues bordering on human rights are usually discussed during the programme. The programme also includes a phone-in calls where listeners air their views and seek answers to some pertinent questions. In addition to that, various phone and emergency line numbers through which the Desk can be reached for reporting cases of violations of human rights are usually given out to the general public during the radio programme.

QUESTION 3. Does the HRD office face any challenge in convincing Nigerians especially the civilians that it has integrity and credibility to handle their petitions?

ANSWER: It is necessary to state that we do not have any challenge in convincing civilians about our activities. This is due to the way we handle the numerous petitions we receive from them. It would interest you to know that apart from the emails sent to our office and the phone calls we receive, we also get civilians coming to our office directly at No 5 Lekki Close Garki II to report violations against them. It is also pertinent to state for the record that officers and soldiers of the NA HRD always dress in civilian attire in order to create a conducive and civilian friendly environment so that the issue of intimidation does not arise. We have handled and treated petitions successfully. So it is more like a referral and this is because of the confidence reposed on us while carrying out our tasks.

QUESTION 4. Does this office handle cases of domestic violence within your ranks?

ANSWER: The answer to that question will be in the affirmative. There are barely cases of domestic violence within our ranks but the complaints we usually receive are cases of abandonment and neglect of spouses and children as well as refusal to pay spousal support. In line with Section 211 of the Armed Forces Act, a brief has been written to the Chief of Army Staff for the approval of deductions from the erring personnel’s salary so as to cater for abandoned spouses/children. I am happy to announce that this request has been approved by the Chief of Army Staff. Currently, we have less cases of the occurrence of human rights abuses. This could be attributed to the occasional visits, seminars and workshops conducted by the Desk in various NA formations and units across the country to educate own troops on the importance of adherence to Rule of Law and the rules of engagement during operations. This is important because military personnel are subject to the doctrine of compact (meaning that in accordance with sections 114 of the Armed Forces Act, Military personnel are subjected to both civil and military laws and the need to maintain a happy home front cannot be over emphasized.

QUESTION 5. Does the NA HRD office plan to set up sexual violations offenders register?

ANSWER:  I want to say that we already have in existence a sexual violation offenders’ register. Based on this, I can categorically tell you that from the breakdown of alleged human rights violations and the percentage of crimes from inception, sexual harassment and other related matters were 6 percent. This is because we often have few cases of sexual harassment. To be honest with you, since I took over the Human Rights Desk Office in August 2018, we have not had cases of sexual harassment and other related matters, so the 6 percent was recorded and treated before I took over the office. The cases that have high percentage are assault (17 per cent), extortion, trespass on property and unlawful arrest (12 per cent). The sexual violations offenders register enable us to monitor the names in order to checkmate or ascertain it a name appears more than once and to treat accordingly.

QUESTION 7.  Do you handle cases of human trafficking if they do occur within the barracks?

ANSWER:  It is important to highlight the nature of the cases that we often receive. Apart from those highlighted above, other cases include murder, impersonation, financial crime, unlawful arrest and enforced disappearance. Others are unpaid salary/allowance or gratuity and pension, unlawful seizure, breach of contract, unlawful dismissal, torture and extra judicial killing. However, we have never had cases of human trafficking and I doubt if such occurs in the barracks. The military is a highly organized body which is based on discipline and regimentation. It would be difficult for human trafficking to take place and I doubt if such occurs in the barracks.

QUESTION 8. What are the aspirations and projections of the NA HRD in the next five years?

ANSWER:   Our aspirations and projections in the next years and beyond are numerous, I would mention but a few. We aspire to be bigger and better by continually improving or enhancing our performance. We also want to ensure that cases are reduced to barest minimum. We also hope to expand our mandate which is to protect human rights by ensuring its spread worldwide. To that end, we intend to equip the Desk with modern reference materials and to upgrade capacity and competences of the staff of the Desk in terms of training and re-training especially in area of conciliations, mediation and conflict prevention among others.

QUESTION 9. Finally, how many partnership agreements have you entered with stakeholders in the human rights organized community?

ANSWER:  We have entered into a lot of partnership in form of collaborations and cooperation with various non-governmental organizations, international organizations, civil society organizations and a host of others and these are unwritten. For instance, we deal closely with the National Human Rights Commission, CLEEN Foundation, the Nigerian Bar Association and a host of other stakeholders. We collaborate with these agencies and organizations to ensure effective tackling of human rights violations and abuses. We intend to further expand the scope of our partnership and collaboration with other related agencies and association such as the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), the Legal Aid Council and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

With over two decades behind me as a professional journalist at the highest level and a manager of a civil society platform for twelve years now i can rate the Nigerian Army above 70% performance in the area of respect for human rights.

*Emmanuel Onwubiko is head of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and blogs @ www.emmanuelonwubiko.com; www.thenigerianinsidernews.com; www.huriwa.blogspot.com.

2019: Arrest Car donor to Buhari now: - HURIWA to EFCC: *Condemns Freeze of Peter Obi’s accounts:

Angst by the open double standard of the anti-graft body, a pro-democracy and civil society group – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has challenged Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to show that it is not the armed wing of All Progressive Congress by taking steps to redeem its battered image. The group wants the global community not to standby and watch as the President uses the EFCC; The Police and other armed security forces to undermine constitutional democracy and seek to manipulate the outcome of the forthcoming polls in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress even as the Rights group expressed fears that these illegal steps by the federal government could precipitate social chaos and upheavals that may have untoward consequences to our constitutional democracy.  

HURIWA tasked the Ibrahim Magu – led EFCC to desist from confiscating the legitimate finances of the presidential running mate of the opposition party – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Peter Obi and to arrest and interrogate a member of the All Progressives Congress in the Federal House of Representatives Alhaji Umar Bago for flouting extant laws on campaign finances by his unilateral donation of 110 vehicles to that incumbent president.

In a media statement, the National Coordinator of HURIWA Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Directors Miss Zainab Yusuf lamented that the Ibrahim Magu-led EFCC has since embarked on a voyage of destroying constructive political opposition to the incumbent president through all sorts of subterfuge and politically tainted prosecutorial blackmail, intimidation and deployment of unfair and unconstitutional tactics such as the illegal muzzling of the financial muscles of the only opposition party, strong enough to pose a tough competition in the 2019 poll to president Buhari.

“The freezing of the bank account of Mr. Peter Obi who had left the political scene as governor for many years now without any atom of suspicions  and has only just returned as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar the PDP’s presidential flagbearer, is at best, a blackmail of the most primitive dimension just as HURIWA demanded to know why EFCC has resorted to the use of unfair mechanisms to destroy opposition politics in Nigeria including the invasions of homes of children of the leading opposition candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. ”

“The attack on key figures of the PDP by EFCC which has coincided with the reported sighting of Ibrahim Magu at an APC presidential campaign strategy session in Nicon Luxury hotel Area eleven Garki Abuja is the greatest affront to constitutional democracy and if not checked could lead to the eventual scuttling of the 2019 elections.”

“We are compelled to wonder if there is a sinister plot from the topmost holder of political office in AsoRock to scuttle the 2019 election going by the several turning down of the amendments to the electoral Act by the president alongside the freezing of the legitimate earnings of the family of the running mate to the PDP’s presidential candidate and even the open threats to Peter Obi’s life and those of his family members by unknown supporters of APC and the behaviour of EFCC as the armed militant wing of APC.”

Also, HURIWA expressed shock that a member of the Federal House of Representative from Niger state which is one of the Northern states whereby 13 million children are out of school due to parental poverty and neglect of the educational sector, can single handedly donate 110 vehicles against the electoral and campaign financing statutes to the APC presidential candidate.

HURIWA   recalled that Rep. Umar Bago (APC/Niger), on Saturday donated 110 vehicles to the President Muhammadu Buhari re-election campaign team, with a call on the electorate to vote for continuity in the 2019 general elections.

HURIWA quoting the media stated that Bago, while delivering the vehicles to the Niger APC leadership in Minna, expressed optimism that Nigerians would vote for Buhari because he had done well for the country just as he urged the party’s members to work hard toward securing fresh tenures for Buhari and Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger, saying that the two leaders were the best choice for the nation and Niger.

HURIWA quoted the Reps member as explaining that the vehicles will be given to campaign officials and other APC organizations to ease movement to the rural voters to enlighten the populace on the achievements of the two leaders.

Besides, HURIWA recalled that the politician unilaterally donated those large numbers of vehicle going by media reports that he Alhaji Bago said that Buhari provided massive infrastructure that had improved the living standards of Nigerians, while many dams had been constructed to support all-year farming.

HURIWA totally condemned the failure of EFCC to arrest this unusual donor so he clarifies if he is being used as a front by the AsoRock cabal to launder money allegedly or he is the owner of the vehicles.

The toxicity of Soccer racism By Emmanuel Onwubiko

Sports is defined as activities involving physical exertion and skills in which an individual or a team competes against another or others for entertainment. This is the ordinary dictionary definition of the concept of sports.

Brandon Moore says the essence of sports is that they are played for the enjoyment of competition, the test and betterment of skills interesting to us and for the love of participating in our chosen sports . 
Holistically, sports from a broad perspective is a critical thematic area that can be analyzed from philosophical point of view. This is the import of the conceptualization of the special area of human studies identified as philosophy of sports.

In a layman’s understanding, philosophy of sports was best captured by a recent entry I read on Wikipedia.org in which the writer defines it as an area of philosophy that seeks to conceptually analyze issues of sports as human activity.

These broad issues of conceptual analyses, can be categorized into five philosophical themes namely – metaphysics, ethics and moral philosophy, philosophy of law, political philosophy and aesthetics. Philosophy generally is derived from two Greek words of Philo and Sophia meaning the Love of wisdom. This therefore means that sports are those enterprises embarked upon by mankind in pursuit and advancement of human wisdom. Still on the theme of philosophy of sports so we can deepen our understanding of the whole essence of both amateur and professional sports. To the British society we will go to because Great Britain is one place in the World whereby sports are multibillion Dollars businesses. We will therefore consult one of the best known associations of philosophers of sports to drink from their fountain of knowledge.

To the British philosophy of sports association we have arrived. The British Philosophy of Sports Association is known to have one of the most fantastic perspective on the concept of philosophy of sports.

They are of the opinion that philosophy of sports should be characterized by conceptual probe into the nature of sports and related concepts, areas and professions. Philosophy of sports, according to this British body, draws upon and develops many of the diverse branches of the parent discipline, philosophy, and reflects a broad church of theoretical positions and styles.

Before we proceed, it would be nice to remind our audience that this theme of reflection today gained inspiration from an incident that occurred in London, during a competitive premiership game between and amongst two of the world’s most respected elitist footballing teams known as Chelsea football club and Manchester city football club.

By some estimates, the two teams that played on Saturday were said to be worth over one billion British pounds which means that the players are some of the most highly rated soccer team professionals in the world.

A visit a while ago to the official website of Manchester city football club to ascertain just a brief accounts of its history stated that in the year 2008, the Abu Dhabi united group became the new owners. The club is said to have broken the British transfer record for the second time with the £32.5 million signing of Robinho from Real Madrid.

On the other hand, a visit to the official website of Chelsea football club reveals what is already known that the team is owned by one of the richest members of the Russian Oligarchy – Roman Abramovich.

The ultimate parent company of Chelsea FC is Fordstan limited and as I said earlier the biggest stakeholder in this Parent form that owns Chelsea FC is the Russian billionaire Mr. Roman Abramovich.

Chelsea FC is an equal opportunities employer and the board aims to ensure that no job applicant, employee, worker is discriminated against on the grounds of ‘protected characteristics’. The following are what it identifies as protected characteristics: age; disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race/including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin; Religion or belief; sex and sexual orientation.

It is therefore against these backdrops that I have set out to reflect about the unfortunate scenario that played out when the two most respected professional footballing teams met on Saturday during which a black player of Manchester city Mr. Raheem Sterling suffered terrible racist abuses from a lawless fan of Chelsea FC. I, too I'm a fan of Chelsea fc but I'm a black African and so very conscious of the toxicity of allowing racism to fester in professional or amateur sports. So this reflection is devoid of any sentimental attachment to any club but is a philosophical appraisal of how best to root out the deeply embedded racism in sports generally. As a media professional, I'm aware of the mind blowing allegations that institutionally, the British media has helped to deepen the existence of soccer racism. This calls for sober reflection.

Besides the larger issues of media's involvement in sports racism and most especially in Great Britain which is the World's capital of the most attractive Football, as earlier stated, both Manchester city and Chelsea FC are subscribers to the rules against racism as stipulated by the football governing body in the world known as Federation of International Football or FIFA in short.

Before going through the laws of FIFA which frowns strongly against racism in soccer, let us examine what actually happened at the prestigious Stamford bridge stadium in London which has drowned out the deserved victory of Chelsea as the champions. Stamford bridge stadium is a place i have gone on soccer pilgrimages from my home Country in Nigeria every other year in over a decade and on the last count i have had to spend nearly £10,000 of my hard earned money  to buy different souvenirs from the flourishing soccer shop located within the expansive football complex in Central London.

Regarding the incident under discussion, the  media reports that Metropolitan Police officers have spoken to Raheem Sterling as they investigate an incident of alleged racist abuse aimed at the Manchester City star in which a fan allegedly called him a ‘f****** black c***.’

The media recalled that it was just Six days after a banana was thrown towards African Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang by a Tottenham fan in last weekend’s north London derby, Sterling was abused during Manchester City’s 2-0 loss at Chelsea.

Already reactions have trailed this sad incident. Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand suggested that footballers in England should be inspired by Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling gesture and launch their own bid to fight back against racism after this latest worrying incident. Pictures of the moment and a video widely circulated on social media appeared to confirm this, with one spectator allegedly making the racist comment amid a barrage of aggressive abuse from Chelsea fans towards Sterling.

Some big names in the world of football took to Twitter to respond to video footage of the incident. The latest victim of these racist abuses has also spoken up.

Raheem Sterling posted a statement on Instagram on Sunday morning addressing the incident at Stamford Bridge. It read:
‘Good morning. I just want to say I am not normally the person to talk a lot but when I think I need my point to (be) heard I will speak up.
‘Regarding what was said at the Chelsea game as you can see by my reaction I just had to laugh because I don’t expect no better.’
Sterling also said that he believed black players and white players were not treated equally by the media, including the Daily Mail and Mail Online, and that he believes this helps ‘fuel racism and aggressive behaviour’.

Ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand made his views known, posting on Instagram and Twitter: ‘Are we going to continue to allow this type of racist behaviour go on??? All for kicking a ball!’

Ferdinand’s younger brother Anton was racially abused in a match against Chelsea in 2011. Blues captain John Terry was banned for four matches and fined £220,000 after admitting using the word ‘black’ and swearing at Anton, although he claimed he had only been repeating words he thought the then-QPR defender had accused him of saying.

Rio’s Instagram post attracted a comment from Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, who wrote: ‘We have to put a stop to this someway’.

Ferdinand replied: ‘In the NFL the players took to the knee…’ He was referencing a movement spearheaded by former quarterback Kaepernick, who began a trend of kneeling during the US national anthem in protest against racism in America. Kaepernick famously explained his position: ‘I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour.’

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright also weighed in on social media, saying he is under no illusion as to what was said by the fan to Sterling. Wright said: ‘The bad old days are back! Chelsea you have been shamed by this disgusting racist fan! Absolutely no doubt about what he says.’

Match of the Day host Gary Lineker branded the incident ‘despicable’ while BT Sport presenter Jake Humphrey said: ‘If indeed it is proved to be racist abuse then I hope it’s a lifetime ban. No place for it in this world.

A Chelsea spokesman said: ‘We’re aware of reports and video footage. We will investigate the matter and take the strongest possible action where necessary.’

A Football Association statement read: ‘We take all allegations of discrimination extremely seriously and will work with the clubs and the relevant authorities to ensure this matter is dealt with appropriately.

‘We strongly condemn all forms of discrimination and encourage all fans and participants who believe that they have been the subject of, or witness to, discriminatory abuse to report it through the appropriate channels: The FA, our County FAs or our partners Kick It Out.’

The Met Police said: ‘We are aware of a video circulating online in which it is claimed racial abuse was allegedly directed at a player at a Chelsea v Manchester City game at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, December 8.

‘We will review the footage to determine whether any offences have been committed.’
No arrests have been made, the Met added.

Also the Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out later issued a statement, which read: ‘We’ve received reports from a variety of sources about an incident of alleged racist abuse at the Chelsea-Manchester City game.

‘We will forward those to Chelsea and offer our support in their investigation.
‘Yet another great day of football damaged by prejudice.’

These are the official policies of football governing body (FIFA) on racism. From FIFA's official website we are told thus: "Racism and discrimination affect society at large, and football is no exception. Their impact on our sport is undeniable. FIFA recognizes its responsibility to lead the way in abolishing all forms of discrimination in our game, but also to make the most of the influence football has beyond the pitch, thereby contributing to the fight against this scourge of society."

FIFA’s position on the issue is unequivocal: there is no place for racism or for any other form of discrimination in football, as clearly described in the FIFA Statutes and several of FIFA’s regulations and codes. We are committed to fighting discrimination in football in all its forms.

In FIFA’s day-to-day operations, the institution has adopted a strategic approach to rid out racism just as it expresses optimism that, this preventive approach involves five key and intersecting elements that are crucial to embrace diversity and anti-discrimination in world football:

Regulations provides the legal basis for FIFA’s overall approach to diversity and anti-discrimination. This covers disciplinary matters, safety and security, employment policies and the position of a FIFA Diversity & Anti-Discrimination Manager.

Controls and Sanctions covers risk assessments, match observation, investigation of discriminatory incidents and possible sanctions, referees’ duties and the training of match officials.
Communications features all media information and PR on diversity and anti-discrimination issues, public awareness raising and campaigning.

Education means providing training for FIFA officials and FIFA staff, and providing an advisory framework for FIFA member associations.

Networking and Cooperation rounds off the approach by involving many areas of expertise and organizations such as member associations, confederations, and governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Basically, on the aims of these measures, The FIFA Diversity Award highlights the importance of the fight against exclusion and discrimination, and is presented to an organization, group initiative or football personality that is putting their full weight behind a project or programme that is making a significant contribution to diversity and anti-discrimination.

It argues that through this symbolic recognition and honour, FIFA intends to inspire others around the world to take up the cause, which in turn will motivate other organizations, group initiatives and individuals to exchange best practices and build up networks.

The award it noted also provides FIFA with an opportunity to highlight and strengthen its own strategic approach and activities in the field of diversity and anti-discrimination, for example by firming up relations with key stakeholders or fostering the debate around diversity and anti-discrimination.

In the light of the above, FIFA assembles an 11-strong jury, comprising prominent figures from global football and international experts in diversity and anti-discrimination in sport.
Interestingly, between them, the jury members combine their expertise in the fight against discrimination in all of its guises, whether based on ethnic, national or social origin, gender, disability, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, sexual orientation or any other reason. The jury is tasked to select three finalists and the ultimate winner of the FIFA Diversity Award.

I think there are strong enough deterrent measures against racism. It is hoped that all the professional teams and amateur teams globally will take the fight against racism as a major battle to conquer one of the last vestiges of slavery. The United Nations should also make binding resolutions on racism of all dimensions. This is because sports racism can spark off a war.

*Emmanuel Onwubiko is head of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and blogs @ www.emmanuelonwubiko.com; www.huriwanigeria.com; www.thenigerianinsidernews.com; www.huriwa.blogspot.com.

2019 Polls: You can’t ban Igbo from travelling -: says HURIWA *Condemns political bribery of trader moni by government:

A pro-democracy and Non-governmental organization – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has condemned the reported ban from travelling for the 2019 election by Igbo speaking Nigerians resident in the 19 Northern states as disclosed by a socio-cultural club – Igbo development association in Kaduna.

HURIWA accused the socio-cultural club of displaying either crass ignorance of the constitutional tenets on fundamental freedoms including freedom of movement or the group may simply be playing the political game of some persons who are totally confused anarchists who pay no heed to the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.

In a media statement made against the backdrop of the story in circulation about a purported ban from travelling to the South East from the 19 Northern states for purposes of the 2019 polls, HURIWA said such a brazen disrespect to the provisions of the constitution is an affront to civilization and must be disregarded by all right thinking free citizens of Nigeria.

HURIWA also reminded the authors of the illegal ban that their public notice amounted to a breach of the section 42 (1) of the constitution which outrightly prohibits discrimination since all other ethnic nationalities cannot come under such a blanket ban that is absolutely illegal and unconstitutional.

Specifically, section 42 (1) states thus: “A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person – be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizen of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizen Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religion or political opinions.”

Besides, HURIWA also cited section 40 and 41 which completely allows citizens of Nigeria the right to either belong to any association or not and the fundamental right to enjoy freedom of movement.
Section 40 “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests.”

41 “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereto or exit therefrom.”

HURIWA recalled that people of Igbo extraction in the 19 northern states have been reportedly banned from travelling to their states of origin to vote in next year’s general elections.

HURIWA quoted the Kaduna based socio cultural association as threatening that any person who flouts the directive would be fined an undisclosed amount of money.

Quoting media accounts, HURIWA recalled that the decision was reached following an extraordinary meeting of the Igbo Delegates Assembly (IDA) in Barnawa, Kaduna State. IDA, an administrative umbrella organization of Igbo resident in the northern states and Abuja, is responsible for members’ welfare. In attendance were executives, all Eze Igbos and chapter presidents in the 19 states.

HURIWA recalled that the IDA had averred thus: “We want our people to stay in their respective states and cast their votes. The era of running home during elections cannot be tolerated again. There is no need for us to go home at every election because if you do that you will automatically disenfranchise yourself."

“We have done a lot of sensitization. We have also educated our people on this and we all agreed. That is why we decided to place an embargo. And if you travel, IDA will fine such person(s),” the organization said in a statement jointly signed by President General Chief Chikezie Nwogu and Secretary General Austin Ofokansi Ifedinezi. The Assembly also urged members to remain law-abiding in their states of residence."

HURIWA however cautioned the group to refrain from imposing extralegal measures against citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria even if they may be registered members of the body just as the Rights group said it was inconceivable that in this 21st century a group could come up with such medieval body of rules which absolutely offends the clear provisions of the Nigerian constitution which permits freedom of movement to all Nigerians.

Relatedly, HURIWA has condemned the federal government for embarking on a nation-wide votes buying exercises for the ruling All Progressives Congress in the guise of disbursement of N10,000 to traders in a controversial and politically tainted programme tagged Trader Moni.

“We condemn this daylight robbery of the consciences and votes of heavily impoverished Nigerians by this federal government which has dispersed vote buyers all across Nigeria to bribe would- be voters with cash award of N10,000 with a condition that each of the beneficiaries must cast his/her vote in 2019 for the APC’s presidential candidate.

“Our members from all across the six geopolitical zones have been calling us to inform us that they have witnessed these scenes of open bribery of prospective voters by agents of the presidency from Abuja who are openly collecting relevant data of voters and extracting commitment to vote for APC before disbursing the paltry sum of N10,000 in the name of a so-called Trader Moni concept which is now muddied in the dirty water of Nigeria’s politics".

"We condemn the Independent National Electoral Commission for aiding and abetting the rigging of 2019 election clear two months before actual election take place, HURIWA stated” adding that "We call on Nigerians not to accept such bribes but to mobilize in their numbers and chase away those agents of bribery away from their communities.”