Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy Group: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has dropped the Anambra State governor, Mr. Charles Chukwuma Soludo as the lead speaker at their July 25th annual national human rights lecture just as it has picked the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) of the Gregory University Professor Uwaoma Uche as the lead speaker to speak on the theme: ANY NEXUS BETWEEN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AND HUMAN RIGHTS?
HURIWA didn’t provide reasons for dropping Professor Soludo as the lead speaker. Other prominent Nigerians expected at the event include the Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Gwobin Musa, the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, the CEO of NDLEA Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba-Marwa amongst others.
Besides, the lead speaker, Professor Uche has through the office of the National Coordinator of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) issued an abstract of the lead paper even as the University Don has tasked political leaders to ensure that the human rights of the citizens of Nigeria are strictly enforced just as the University Don advocated the mainstreaming of human rights principles in the policy formulation by political leaders and by the legislators in the making of legislative frameworks. The University teacher deplores the unprecedented rate of poverty and deprivation in Nigeria and has asked politicians to enforce the human rights provisions of chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution.
Professor Uche stated thus: “Political leaders play a significant role in upholding and promoting human rights through the policies they implement, the laws they enact, and the decisions they make. By respecting and protecting human rights, political leaders demonstrate their commitment to the well-being and dignity of all individuals within their jurisdiction.
Effective political leadership involves ensuring that human rights are not only recognized on paper but also upheld in practice. This includes promoting equality, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, the right to a fair trial, and other fundamental rights and freedoms.
Political leaders should work towards creating a legal framework that protects human rights, as well as mechanisms for their enforcement and accountability.
Moreover, political leaders have a responsibility to address human rights violations, whether committed by state actors or non-state actors. They must ensure that perpetrators are held accountable and that victims have access to justice and remedies.
By promoting a culture of respect for human rights within their societies, political leaders can contribute to building a more just, inclusive, and peaceful world.
In summary, the nexus between human rights and political leadership is essential for fostering a society where the rights and dignity of all individuals are respected and protected. Strong leadership that prioritizes human rights can lead to positive social change, greater equality, and improved well-being for all members of society.”
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko,
National Coordinator,
HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).
7TH/7/2024.
