Citizen’s Right is not Guaranteed under Buhari – Sangosanya

By Our Reporter

The Chair, Christian Foundation for Social Justice and Equity (CFSJE) has alleged that citizen’s fundamental rights are not guaranteed under the All Progressives Congress, APC, government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement issued and personally signed by Sangosanya, he berated the Buhari government saying that “citizens rights is increasingly at an alarming rate.”

Sangosanya called on the government and security agencies in particular to stop the harassment and intimidation of innocent Nigerians.

He added that right to peaceful assembly and protest are inalienable rights of Nigerians as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended and regional and international laws.

The statement read:

“The right to peaceful assembly and peaceful protests are not fully respected in Nigeria, particularly in the case of protesters against the government. Citizens rights is increasingly suppressed at alarming rate. This harassment, victimization and intimidation of innocent Nigerian citizens is ridiculous and totally unacceptable.

“Nigeria is a state party to the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Right (ICCPR). Article 21 guaranteed the right of peaceful Assembly. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides that every person is entitled to assemble freely and associate with other person’s. In the Public Order Act 1979, several sections of the Act were quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2007. The effect of this is that notifications are no longer required for any processions or gatherings. Except if the Organiser of such processions and gatherings want to receive Police protection.

Therefore, Nigerian government should resist use of firearms and brutalization of protesters during assemblies in accordance with International law.”

He berated the government on recent violent attacks on human rights defenders in the country demanding immediate release of all arrested human rights defenders.

He said, “The latest arrest and brutalization of social crusader and human rights defenders in Nigerian mark the height and dangerous stage of impunity that has become the regular trade mark of the administration’ of civilian President Maj. Gen. Muhammad Buhari.

He called for immediate and unconditional release of all Non-State actors, prisoners of conscience, human rights defenders and human rights activists who are being unjustly incarcerated.