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NHRC BOSS TO BE CONFERRED WITH OFR

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We appreciate the role media is playing in the restorative justice in north east Nigeria - Tony Ojukwu

NHRC BOSS TO BE CONFERRED WITH OFR

By: Michael Mike

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN has been designated to be conferred with the prestigious National Honours, in the category of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, OFR.

The Official ceremony culminating in the conferment of the Honours on the Executive Secretary and other deserving citizens will be performed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

This is clearly not the first accolade the human rights defender will be receiving in his career as a technocrat par excellence.

It will be recalled that the Human Rights Expert was awarded the high-status rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The well-deserved honour was bestowed on him sequel to his numerous publications in the field of law and human rights, which have contributed immensely to enrich our legal and human rights jurisprudence including the field of administration of criminal justice.
In all these, one thing stands out; his humility and proclivity for hard work, which seems to be the invisible hand behind these litanies of accolades and recognitions.
It would be recalled that he is the first Executive Secretary to be appointed from among the staff of the Commission. He has carved out a niche for himself following the numerous achievements recorded by the Commission during his tenure.

For instance, upon his appointment as the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, and in what looked like a declaration of emergency on the state of human rights in Nigeria, he hit the ground running bearing in mind that there are many miles to cover.

One of his first assignments was the unbundling of the single existing Investigation department into four thematic departments for effective performance. Now under this able leadership are the departments of Civil and Political Rights, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Women and Children and Vulnerable Groups, all carved out of the overburdened hitherto investigation department.

The idea is to ensure that every complaint that is received by the Commission is resolved in a record time of between three and six months. Though this sounded like a tall order, the truth of the matter is that these four departments are living up to the expectations.

Determined to improve assesibility across the 36 states of the federation, the Executive Secretary ensured the establishment of state offices in additional 12 states that did not have the presence of the Commission. These offices are today very productive and sterling in human rights promotion, protection and enforcement.

Ojukwu has always exhibited his zero tolerance for injustice especially by agents of state. In 2018, the federal government directed the establishment of a panel to investigate the excesses of the personnel of the Nigerian Police. He chaired the then SARS Panel and made far reaching recommendations to the federal government leading to the disbandment of SARS.

Following the END SARS protest in 2020, and the federal government directives, the Commission under the present leadership of the Executive Secretary set up another SARS panel which was headed by Justice Suleiman Galadima, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court.

The federal government showed its unflinching support to the panel and has paid nearly half a billion naira to 100 Nigerians who were victims of Police brutality.

Earlier, the Human Rights Advocate also masterminded and chaired other Human Rights Violations Investigative Panels such as the Special Investigation Panel on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), and the Shiite Panel which made independent inquiry into the clash between the Nigerian Army/Islamic Movement of Nigeria.
In the same manner, the working relationship between the Commission and Civil Society Organisations, the law enforcement agencies has become even more cordial.
This has impacted positively on the ease of releasing information and documents needed to investigate human rights violations.

The Executive Secretary has enhanced the image of the Commission in many ways, having set up a working template in line with international best practices for human rights protection.

Also Read: https://dailypost.ng/2022/09/26/military-neutralises-many-iswap-terrorists-in-yobe/

In the North East which has witnessed a series of gross human rights violations occasioned by the unfortunate insurgency, he has collaboratively worked and is still working with development partners like UNHCR, UNDP, EU etc to address the various human rights and humanitarian challenges bedevilling the area.

His choice of Transitional Justice System to handle the high scale human rights violations by the insurgency and counter insurgency operations in the North East is highly commendable. This strategy is less expensive, faster, more result oriented, workable and justice prone. It has evidently worked in other countries like Rwanda and South Africa where the Gacaca court system and Truth and Reconciliation Commission respectively were leveraged to address mass atrocities and human rights violations. The transitional Justice project which is still in its pilot stage is aimed at achieving a lasting peace in the North East.

Only recently, the legal icon was appointed the alternate Chair of National Committee Against Torture, which has its secretariat domiciled in the NHRC. This is a mark of honour and recognition of the contributions and commitment of the Commission to the cause of human rights.

Little wonder, the Commission has maintained its Grade “A” status as granted by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.

As the next peer review at the UN beckons, it is expected that the Commission will proudly retain this important status.

It is worthy to note that Ojukwu is the first Executive Secretary to be conferred with two honors of SAN and OFR while in office. What a great feat indeed.

The Governing Council, management and staff of the Commission wish to use this opportunity to say a big congratulations to the Executive Secretary for his well-deserved elevation.

NHRC BOSS TO BE CONFERRED WITH OFR

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Sultan of Sokoto calls for proper understanding of jihad, says Islam abhors extremism

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Sultan of Sokoto calls for proper understanding of jihad, says Islam abhors extremism

By: Zagazola Makama

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has stressed the need for Nigerians to understand the true meaning of jihad, noting that it is not about violence but about striving for excellence in all spheres of life.

The Sultan stated this on Thursday in Abuja at the public presentation of “Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,” a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).

He cautioned against misinterpretations of Islamic concepts, saying extremists and uninformed commentators had for decades wrongly associated jihad with terrorism and violence against non-Muslims.

“Jihad simply means striving — striving to be a better Muslim, a better Christian, a better citizen, and a better human being. It is not about killing anyone. Islam abhors extremism, and no true Muslim can claim to follow the teachings of the Prophet while embracing violence,” the Sultan said.

He explained that Islam, properly understood, promotes peaceful coexistence and good governance, adding that Islamic teachings have over the years helped shape Nigeria’s democratic journey by emphasising justice, accountability, and leadership responsibility.

According to him, Islamic institutions such as mosques, scholars, and traditional councils continue to play a stabilising role in the country by mediating conflicts, guiding leaders, and educating citizens on tolerance and civic duties.

“Islam is not about seizing power; it is about ensuring good governance and accountability in society. Our democracy has benefitted from these values because justice and fairness are principles rooted both in the Qur’an and in democratic practice,” he said.

The Sultan also called for stronger interfaith dialogue, stressing that Nigeria’s unity depends on mutual understanding between Christians and Muslims.

“If I know who you are, and you know who I am, we can live in peace. Understanding one another is the foundation for national security and stability,” he added.

He commended Gen. Irabor for writing the book, describing it as a timely resource that not only documents the scars of insurgency but also provides insights for policy, governance, and national healing.

The launch attracted dignitaries including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Defence, service chiefs, traditional rulers, senior military officers, and members of the diplomatic corps.

Sultan of Sokoto calls for proper understanding of jihad, says Islam abhors extremism

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Jonathan says Boko Haram insurgency too complex, calls for holistic solutions

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Jonathan says Boko Haram insurgency too complex, calls for holistic solutions

By Hamza Suleiman

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the Boko Haram insurgency remains one of the most complex and enduring security challenges in Nigeria’s history, warning that military action alone cannot end the crisis.

Jonathan stated this on Thursday in Abuja at the public presentation of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd).

He said that unlike previous crises in Nigeria such as the Niger Delta militancy and ethno-religious violence, the Boko Haram insurgency carried deeper scars because of its external connections, extremist ideology, and advanced weaponry.

“Boko Haram is more complex than what many people imagine. At some point, their fighters had more ammunition than our soldiers, which clearly showed that external groups were deeply involved,” Jonathan said.

The former President noted that the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014 remained one of the most painful scars of his administration, stressing that no form of cosmetic remedy could erase it from the nation’s collective memory.

He recalled his personal engagement with Niger Delta militants as Vice President, saying that his decision to personally visit their camps without armed escorts was borne out of the conviction that dialogue must complement military action.

“In the Niger Delta, I met the militants in their camps. We succeeded in restoring peace not only because of military action but because we engaged them, listened to them, and created opportunities for their communities. That approach worked,” he said.

Jonathan, however, emphasised that Boko Haram presented a different challenge. According to him, the insurgency must be tackled through a holistic strategy that combines security operations with good governance, poverty reduction, youth empowerment, and social justice.

He said: “We cannot treat Boko Haram simply as a law-and-order problem. It is rooted in poverty, exclusion, and broken dreams. Only a comprehensive approach will deliver lasting peace.”

According to him, Nigeria must adopt a similar approach to Boko Haram by tackling poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion in communities vulnerable to extremist recruitment.

He commended Gen. Irabor for documenting his reflections, saying the book would enrich national understanding of insurgency and guide future leaders in shaping policy responses.

“Those who were directly involved must tell their stories. This book will help the nation understand what really happened, what lessons we must learn, and how we can do better in the future,” he added.

The event attracted dignitaries including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former National Security Adviser Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), service chiefs, ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, and traditional rulers.

Jonathan says Boko Haram insurgency too complex, calls for holistic solutions

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Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA

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Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday said that the Federal Government’s programmes and policies under President Bola Tinubu-led administration were improving the welfare of Nigerians.

Mrs Adaline Patari, the State Director of NOA, Gombe State office, stated this shortly after a road show to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day anniversary in Gombe.

Patari said that programmes and policies of Tinubu-led administration had supported many Nigerians from the student’s loan to conditional cash transfer to support to small businesses amongst others.

She stated that the initiatives by the present administration had restored hope and put the country amongst serious countries pursuing better reforms to improve their economy while revamping infrastructure.

According to her, many undergraduates benefitting from the student’s loan scheme which has removed all financial hindrances impeding access to tertiary education now feel a sense of belonging.

She said that the programmes and policies of the Federal Government have benefitted many households and improved their welfare in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

“The reforms of the Federal Government are working and many persons are proud to be Nigerians and more persons are now trying to do the right things as Nigerians.

“People are beginning to see themselves as proud Nigerians and that confidence of being a Nigerian is being restored.

“Today, many Nigerians are benefitting from the programmes of the current administration, this means that the country is now working for them,” she said.

While acknowledging that there were still challenges that needed to be addressed, Patari said, at 65, we have made tremendous progress especially working together in peace and unity.

She urged Nigerians to continue to support Tinubu administration’s programmes towards building a better country that works for all Nigerians.

The state director said that with the necessary reforms being carried out and already yielding results in the economic, agriculture, security and other sectors, more Nigerians would be prouder to be Nigerians in the future.

“Today, the country is progressing and we are united; we are now prouder to be Nigerians and I can tell you that the labour of our heroes past, indeed is never in vain,” she added.

Commending the contributions of youths to national development, Patari urged them to have a positive mind-set towards Nigeria and to always express optimism of a better Nigeria for everyone.

Patari also lauded the renewed strength with which NOA under the Director General of the agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu was being driven.

She said that government’s policies and programmes were getting more supports from Nigerians because of the constant engagements of Nigerians by the NOA nationwide.

The event also featured sensitisation of residents on Federal Government’s policies, programmes and the need for the people to support the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda

Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA

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