From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo
Former Chairperson, Amnesty International, Nigeria Chapter, Dr. Simeon Abiodun Aina, has called on the judiciary to redouble its commitments to deepen and strengthen efforts towards safeguarding the country from sense of injustices unleashed on defenceless citizens by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Speaking with Freedom Online in Oyo town, Aina said
oligarchy-driven insecurity and instability have generated a strong and widespread sense of injustice among the people, adding that governance has been characterised by inefficient yet authoritarian centralisation, a culture of impunity, and demoralising climate of unaccountability dating back to military rule.
He said the combination of aggrieved injustice and the social misery of the majority, if unchecked, risks producing disillusionment with democracy, creates conditions igniting social conflicts and, most importantly, threatens the stability of Nigeria’s political order.
“Nigerian public and middle classes in particular are demanding transformation marked by accountability, effectiveness, representation, and checks and balances so as to prevent the oligarchy from destroying the country’s democratic vision and the opportunities it could offer. The pressure is mounting for visible progress in institutionalising democratic transformation and inculcating democratic behaviour, because the profound insecurity inherent in the
present system virtually guarantees declines in living standards, rising inequality and increasing political violence and social disorder,’’ Aina asserted.
To avoid these outcomes, the ex-Amnesty boss noted that it is
essential that civil society organisations and committed leaders of the six geo-political zones collaborate sincerely and realistically with politicians of redoubtable characters, especially the main opposition party to contain these threats to the country’s stability.
“Security services have inbred in them a potential of abuse of
state power. The subjectivity and flexibility of the notion of
‘national security’, combined with its vital importance to the state, mean that government have a wide margin of manoeuvre in this area. They could be tempted to use the security services to pursue illegitimate aims. It is thus necessary to establish mechanisms to prevent political abuse, while providing for effective governance.
“Security services must be accountable and liable to
be required to give an account or explanation of actions and, where appropriate, to suffer the consequences, take the blame or undertake to put matter right, if it should appear that errors have been made. This is where I commend the APC for not taking laws into their hands but chose the path of decency by moving to seek redress in a competent court of law’’.
One disturbing development undermining rule of law and building on the old authoritarian patterns, according to him, is the rise of ethnic-based militias across several sections of the country. Gangs of armed youths purporting to protect the interests of the Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Hausa, or other groups have been active.
“There have been some unimpressive efforts at police reform to date, with one of the principal obstacles to greater accountability being the fact that the police are not answerable to state or local authorities.’’
For example, Aina asserted that there are now human rights desks in many police stations, but there are no community oversight boards, whereas historically, policing methods were rooted in the community, and closely interlinked with social and religious structures.
However, as with other public goods and services, he noted that the Federal Government has largely failed to provide effective personal security or access to justice for its citizens.
