By Innocent Anaba

As Nigeria join the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s Human Rights Day, Legal Defence and Assistance Project, LEDAP, and International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law,   Intersociety, have tasked the Nigerian Government, to ensure that it and its agencies, respect the rights of Nigerians.

LEDAP in a statement by Executive programmes Director, Mrs Adaobi Egboka, said “As today (yesterday) marks another Human Rights day, we call on the Nigerian government to take special measures to promote and protect the Human Rights of its citizens in the forthcoming elections.

“We note that most of the problems besieging Nigeria today are traceable to the incessant manipulation of election results.   Despite the efforts of Civil Society Organizations (CSO), Nigeria’s human rights records remain poor, extra judicial killings are committed with impunity and government officials at all levels continue to commit serious abuses.

“In recent times, the country has suffered great disregard of human rights spanning from kidnapping, terrorism, sexual and gender based violence, extrajudicial killings, restriction on freedom of information and speech, amongst others.

“We are deeply concerned that the issue of the abduction of the Chibok girls and other abductions remains a mirage. Worthy of note is the incessant bombings and the spate of kidnappings across the entire polity, which till date; no ascertainable action has been effected by the Government.

“We will in line with this year’s theme ‘Human Rights 365’ supports the fundamental proposition in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at all times, is entitled to a full range of human rights; that every day is a Human Rights Day and that human rights belong equally to each one of us and bind us together.

“The Government is reminded of its commitment to ensuring that Nigeria as a country stands in agreement with the United Nations to ensure that the rights of the citizens are protected and in occurrence of any infringement, the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

Intersociety in a statement by its Board Chairman, Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi, said “As the world marks today (yesterday) the 66th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed and adopted on December 10, 1948, it is our observation that though all human rights are indivisible and indissoluble, yet the civil rights (right to life, dignity of human person, freedom of movement, personal liberty, etc) is the most endangered around the world particularly in Africa and middle east.

“Holding governments to account over their compliance to, or breaches of human rights obligations; is a noble global call, but what about the unchecked atrocious conducts of armed opposition groups in the course of prosecution of intra- State wars? Of 64 active rebellions or intra-State wars raging around the world involving 591 militia-guerrillas and other anarchist groups, atrocity crimes committed by them far more outweigh those of constituted authorities or sitting governments.

“Sadly, while more attentions are paid to, and energies dissipated on constituted authorities or sitting governments in monitoring their gross rights abuses, little attentions are given to murderous or homicidal armed opposition groups’ hyper gross rights abuses around the world. There is a manifest partiality on the part of the UN and international systems in this regard.

“Our referenced coming event contains two powerful and thunderous messages to the entire world and the Federation of Nigeria particularly as the latter prepares for its 2015 crucial general polls. We look forward to the said date.” he added.