ARMY/SHIITES CLASH: HURIWA URGES CORDIAL CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS

A pro-Democracy Non-governmental organization -Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria  (HURIWA ) has canvassed increased civil cum military partnership for nation building even as the Rights group has tasked the Federal Government to more constructive fortify the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission by appointing a vibrant and credible civil society activist of proven records to head the administrative hierarchy of the National Human Rights Commission for greater efficiency and prompt redress of alleged violations of the Constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights of the Nigerian citizens.

HURIWA in a statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, its National Coordinator further stated that from available information and eye witness accounts it got from Zaria in Kaduna State, there is the urgent need for Nigerians to support the ongoing local remedial mechanisms such as the decision by the Nigerian Army hierarchy to approach the National Human Rights Commission for investigation over alleged rights abuses by the Zaria based Shifted movement and also the judicial commission of Inquiry instituted by the validly empowered Kaduna State government.

HURIWA said although the incident that precipitated to needless deaths was regrettable it however advised that circumspection is needed now so an atmosphere of persistently mutual suspicions between the Nigerian military and the civil populace is not popularized and enthroned.  We need the Nigerian military as much as they the military needs us in the larger civil society community because without the people of Nigeria who own the sovereignty of Nigeria there would be no Nigerian military and at the same time without the Nigerian military our territorial integrity will be imperiled thereby making it impossible for the human rights of the citizenry to be promoted; protected and nurtured and for civil democracy to be permanently enthroned.  We need each other and at these trying times that Nigeria faces threats of terrorism there is the need to further consolidate on existing civil cum military partnership for the love of fatherland.

Expressing optimism that the existing local remedial mechanisms already activated at both sub national and national level was capable of dousing all tensions and far reaching recommendations expected with the expectations that justice for all would be accomplished, the Rights group said it has noted with considerable satisfaction that the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army has set in motion various measures of promoting civil cum military relations including the need to respect human rights of all citizens in times of internal military operations. HURIWA has therefore called for greater practical synergy between the civil society stakeholders and the military.         

HURIWA, also, volunteered to “gladly provide support to our military so the respect for the human rights of all nigerians are promoted and protesters.”

Source News Express