Don’t tamper with electoral process, RHWR counsels FG

The Regional Watch for Human Rights group, while launching its official existence in Nigeria, has stated the resolve to collaborate with genuine Civil Society Organizations (CSO) to intensify advocacy against flagrant abuse of human rights in the country The non-governmental group which formerly existed in Liberia for over three decades cited the synergy enjoyed from the CSOs in Nigeria back in the military junta era of Charles Taylor as a driving force which endears them to Nigeria, owing to the seemingly dwindling fervency of human rights campaigners.
The RWHR Regional Director Advocate, Tola Adebayor, while speaking at the maiden launch of the group in Nigeria held at the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG) their counterpart and host in Nigeria, noted that no amount of repression can halt progression of genuine human rights group.
“The purpose of launching this in Nigeria is to join our other human rights groups here so as to work together in the attainment of human rights, respect for rule of law, human dignity and more.
“We want to ensure that our society in Nigeria is sanitized to a point whereby people’s rights will be respected.We have seen so many issues going on in Nigeria, but it is the duty of human rights to ensure we bring to the notice of the government all the violations to ensure they are addressed for correction.
“Our mandate in the sub region is; monitoring and reporting human rights situation here amidst other issues, we would be providing legal services to underprivileged, especially when your rights are violated under the law, we will be there for you to ease you off the legal service cost burden.
“We in RHWR have lawyers sworn to that course already with commitment to serve the Nigeria people all times.I want to however bring to the attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria, there is a great need for Nigeria government to improve their human rights record.
He raised concern about the coming general elections saying:”I want the Nigeria government to allow people to exercise their rights to vote, it should be done in a free and fair environment, there should be plain field for people to exercise their rights to vote”.
Charging journalist to report the process thoroughly to evolve an egalitarian Nigeria deserves.
“We will also be organizing three days workshop dealing with building capacity of the civil society movement generally, in the area of human rights protection and preservation for the people and that of the government.
“As both citizens and government have obligations and roles to play here, government should be seen as servants while the citizens are the master,” Afekhuai reiterated.