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NHRC Tells Youth, “Don’t Allow Yourselves Used As Canon Fodders to Deepen Hatred in Nigeria”
NHRC Tells Youth, “Don’t Allow Yourselves Used As Canon Fodders to Deepen Hatred in Nigeria”
By: Michael Mike
The Executive Director of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu has called on young people not to allow themselves to be used as ‘cannon fodders’ to incite and deepen hatred in Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja at the special event to mark the 2024 International Day for Countering Hate Speech, Ojukwu said: “Sensitising and mobilising young people to combat hate speech is crucial in today’s world, where they are not only the target but also influential voices in their communities.”
He noted that young people who are more in Nigeria should guard against breaking the bond of the country and as such “should not allow themselves to be used as ‘cannon fodders’ to incite and deepen hatred in Nigeria.”
He added that: “Coincidentally, youths form the bedrock of our nation, and this demographic divide should at all times be mobilised for the social and economic development of our dear nation.”
He revealed that the NHRC working with the UN System in Nigeria, youth leaders and other stakeholders will use this commemorative event to create awareness, foster partnerships, and promote strategies to identify, address and counter hate speech.
He noted that: “This event which is jointly organised by the National Human Rights Commission and the United Nations in Nigeria in pursuance of their unique mandates to promote and protect human and in recognition of the roles of youth in nation building as well as serving as natural agents in the promotion of values etched in human rights in the spirit of Chapters 2 and 4 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
Ojukwu said: “Hate speech is intricately related to human rights, either in its form or outcome. From the purveyor, it is about right to freedom of expression, opinion, speech or belief. To the recipient, it is a violation of the rights to dignity of human person and the freedom from discrimination based on religious belief, political, ethnic, gender, cultural or other affiliations, amongst many other human rights.
“Hate speeches promote discrimination, divisions, incites violence, all of which impedes voters’ participation and access in the elections.”
On his part, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mohamed Fall said the United Nations considers hate speech as any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour, that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender or other identity factor.
Fall who was represented the Culture Programme Specialist, UNESCO Abuja Office, Mr. Philippe Delanghe said: “Hate speech contradicts all the values and principles enshrined in international human rights law. It also undermines efforts to achieve the aim of 2030 Agenda and its SDGs to leave no one behind, as it often targets the most vulnerable in our societies and minorities.”
He warned that: “If left unchecked, hate speech can harm peace and development, lay the ground for conflicts and tensions, undermine social cohesion, and contribute to wide scale human rights violations and atrocity crimes.”
He added that: “The devastating effect of hatred is not new. However, new technologies of communication has amplified the scale and impact of hate speech. Social media and the internet are now the most frequent methods for spreading divisive rhetoric and ideologies on a global scale.
“This brings me to the theme of this year, the power of youth to address and combat hate speech. Young people are often most affected by hate speech, particularly online as such young people must be part of the solution, your role in creating public and online spaces that are free from hate speech cannot be underestimated.
“The world must not tramp on freedom of speech and expression, but when speech is used to violate the rights of others it must not be met with silence. Silence implies apathy and even acceptance.”
He revealed that: “At the UN in Nigeria, we are working with multiple stakeholders to promote tolerance. UNESCO is leading the way through its efforts to promote Media and Information Literacy (MIL). We are also currently developing a UN wide Hate Speech Strategy. We count on your support in ensuring the strategy will be translated into effective action.”
He stated that: “As we celebrate a culture of tolerance today, I urge all of us including the government, traditional and faith leaders, civil society, young people, individuals, toincrease our efforts to counter hate speech in line with international human rights law.
“As the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has said: “Hatred is a danger to everyone – and so fighting it must be a job for everyone.”
NHRC Tells Youth, “Don’t Allow Yourselves Used As Canon Fodders to Deepen Hatred in Nigeria”
Ogoni Leaders Petition Tinubu, Accuse Wike of Undermining Peace Dialogue
By: Michael Mike
Leaders and people of Ogoniland have petitioned President Bola Tinubu over alleged attempts by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to undermine the ongoing Federal Government–Ogoni dialogue process aimed at resolving the decades-long Ogoni crisis.
The petition was submitted under the auspices of the Conscience of Ogoni People (COOP), formerly known as the Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates, a group of concerned Ogoni stakeholders advocating peace, justice, and sustainable development in Ogoniland.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by COOP’s Leader and Spokesman, Chief Gani Topba, the group expressed strong support for the dialogue and peace process being facilitated by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, describing it as the most credible effort so far to address the long-standing Ogoni question.
COOP alleged that Wike has been engaging in actions intended to frustrate the dialogue, tracing the dispute to unresolved issues from his tenure as Governor of Rivers State.
According to the group, the controversy is linked to a long-standing compensation dispute between the Ejama Ebubu community in Ogoni and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) over environmental damage claims that were decided in favour of the community.
The group stated that the Rivers State Government became deeply involved in the matter during Wike’s administration, a development that has remained contentious and unresolved in public discourse.
COOP further alleged that during the recent visit of the NSA to Ogoniland, political associates of the FCT Minister were instructed to boycott and undermine the engagement. The group claimed that efforts were deliberately made to sabotage the dialogue at the community level.
Raising security concerns, COOP alleged that armed youths recruited from different parts of Rivers State are currently being mobilised and camped around the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters, allegedly to destabilise the peace process.
The group also claimed that Wike is displeased with Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalaiyi Fubara, for cooperating with the NSA to ensure the success of the Ogoni dialogue. According to COOP, local government chairmen in Eleme, Tai, Gokana and Khana LGAs were allegedly directed to recruit armed youths to disrupt the dialogue and frustrate the proposed resumption of oil operations in Ogoniland.
COOP warned that if these alleged actions are not checked, they could pose serious threats to public peace and security in Rivers State and derail the fragile but promising dialogue process.
The group noted that the ongoing engagement has been widely welcomed by Ogoni people as a sincere and inclusive initiative aimed at achieving lasting peace, environmental remediation, economic reintegration of Ogoni communities, and the safe resumption of oil production in Oil Mining Lease (OML) II. They added that a successful outcome would significantly boost national revenue, foreign exchange earnings, energy security and employment.
COOP appealed to President Tinubu to intervene by calling on the FCT Minister to desist from actions capable of reigniting tension in Ogoniland. The group urged the President to protect the dialogue process and mandate relevant security and intelligence agencies to investigate the allegations.
They call on the President to ensure that no individual, regardless of position, undermines national interest for personal or sectional gain, expressing confidence that decisive intervention would help secure peace in Ogoniland and reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to justice, national unity and economic recovery.
Ogoni Leaders Petition Tinubu, Accuse Wike of Undermining Peace Dialogue
Gamawa commended Gov. Bala for the creation of additional emirates in Bauchi
By: Yahaya Wakili
His Royal Highness, the Emir of Gamawa in Bauchi State, Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir Adamu, has commended His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad A Kauran Daular Ussumaniyya, for the creation of additional emirates, chiefdoms, and districts statewide.
The emir made the commendation in an interview with Newsng in Sabon Garin Nangere, the headquarters of the Tikau emirate council of Yobe state, when he visited His Royal Highness, the Emir of Tikau, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammadu Ibn Grema II.
He said the strategic move by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad, brings essential development projects, empowers local aspirations, and ensures inclusive growth reaches every corner of the grassroots.
The emir revealed that he was at the Tikau emirate council today to express his profound appreciation to the emir of Tikau, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammadu Ibn Grema II, for his support given to us since we were appointed as the emir of Gamawa, adding that Tikau and Gamawa have had a strong relationship for a long time.
He said, “Tikau and Gamawa share a common border, and also we are neighbors, and we have the history of the Tikau emirate for fostering unity, justice, and loving his people, as well as involving all stakeholders, and steadfastly upholding law and order in his domain.”
“Therefore, we are soliciting the support, advice, and cooperation of the emir and also strengthening our relationship to govern the people of the Gamawa emirate council fairly without bias or selfish interest, and we thank the emir for the hospitality rendered to him and members of his emirate council.
Gamawa commended Gov. Bala for the creation of additional emirates in Bauchi
Police sergeant arrested for supplying arms used in Nasarawa robbery
By: Zagazola Makama
A serving police sergeant has been arrested for allegedly supplying an AK-47 rifle used in an armed robbery attack in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Zagazola reliably informed by sources that the development followed the arrest of a robbery suspect, Justine Gbata, 30, of Doka Village, who was apprehended after gunmen attacked one Muhammad Danka of Ankoma Village and dispossessed him of his red Bajaj motorcycle.
The incident occurred at about 1:00 p.m. on Jan. 24, when the assailants, armed with an AK-47 rifle, fired several shots during the operation before fleeing into a nearby forest with the motorcycle.
“After the report, a combined team of police operatives, vigilantes and hunters pursued the attackers into the forest and arrested one suspect. Seven empty AK-47 shells were recovered at the scene,” the sources said.
They added that the suspect, who sustained injuries during the chase, was taken to General Hospital, Doma, for treatment.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed that the rifle used for the robbery was supplied by a serving police sergeant attached to Daudu Division in Benue State,” the sources said.
The sergeant has since been identified and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Benue for further investigation.
Police authorities said efforts were ongoing to arrest the remaining members of the gang and recover the stolen motorcycle, while investigations into the case continue.
Police sergeant arrested for supplying arms used in Nasarawa robbery
Ogoni Leaders Petition Tinubu, Accuse Wike of Undermining Peace Dialogue
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