A prominent civil Rights Advocacy group – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has categorically challenged President Muhammadu Buhari's administration to invest substantially on human capital development and to nullify any plan to set up Ruga Fulani settlements all across Nigeria because the selfish policy is unconstitutional and illegal going by a plethora of provisions of the Land Use Act of 1978; Section 42(1) of the Constitution prohibiting discriminatory policies and the Constitutional Oath of Office administered on President Muhammadu Buhari which makes him the President of all of Nigeria and not only of his Ethno-religious community.
Section 42(1) states as follows: " 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:- (a) 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 citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or (b) 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 citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions. "
HURIWA affirmed that the insistence by the President to deploy public fund to establish Ruga settlements amounts to a direct affront to the oaths of allegiance as enshrined in the seventh schedule of the Nigerian constitution of 1999 (as amended) and are as follows: “I, (Muhammadu Buhari) do solemnly swear/affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will discharge my duties to the best of my ability, faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law, and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that I will strive to preserve the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions; that I will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that I will abide by the Code of Conduct contained in the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that in all circumstances, I will do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will; that I will not directly or indirectly communication or reveal to any person any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as President; and that I will devote myself to the service and well-being of the people of Nigeria. So help me God.”
On the corollary, the Rights group has called for the arrest and prosecution for alleged battery and assault, the serving senator representing Adamawa North Mr. Elisha Abbo following the attacks he unleashed on a nursing mother and shop attendant at an undisclosed sex toy shop in Abuja.
The Rights group has also applauded his political party – People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for condemning the alleged misconduct of a senator elected under its platform just as the Rights group has asked the mass media to be professional in their reportage so as not to indulge in the disclosure of the private health status of the said senator in compliance with the ethical issues on non-disclosure of private health status that could lead to stigmatization and discrimination which the violence against Person’s Act of 2015 frowns against.
In a media statement endorsed by the National coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss. Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA applauded the decision of the hierarchy of the senate, the inspector General of police Mohammed Adamu and the National leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for swiftly embarking on the immediate investigation of the remote and immediate circumstances that resulted in the alleged physical violence unleashed by the senator on the woman's shop attendant without provocation.
HURIWA said the thorough, transparent and open investigation, prosecution of the Senator before the competent court of law in line with section 6 of the Nigerian Constitution would convey the direct message that nobody is above the law just as the Rights group believes that the victim of his unprovoked attacks must be adequately protected and granted legal remedies for those violations.
HURIWA recalled with satisfaction that the PDP has immediately invoked her powers to deploy internal mechanisms to deal with the matter as stated the media statement in which the National Publicity Secretary of PDP Mr. Kola Olagbodiyan disclosed that In the light of this, the NWC has commenced investigation into the matter and summons Senator Elisha Abbo in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP and code of conduct of our members. In the same vein, the party has taken note of the immediate action taken by the Senate.
The PDP, at all levels of engagement, is reputed for her utmost respect and commitment towards the rights, safety and wellbeing of our citizens, particularly our women and cannot tolerate any callous assault on any Nigerian.
HURIWA is hereby appealing to the media to leave out the health status of the Senator out of their reports to avoid ethical issues that may arise from the unwarranted intrusions into his private medical records.
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