2023 General Election: Human Rights Commission Set To Hold Public Hearing On Hate Speeches

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has hinted that it will soon constitute a public hearing on the plethora of hate speeches which characterized 2023 pre-election, during and post-election era in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, it disclosed that it has almost concluded compilation and analysis of data collated on hate speeches within the period under review through its inhouse hate speech desk and would soon make the report open to the public.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, made these disclosures during interactive session with Journalists in Abuja.

OPTIMUM TIMES recalls that politicians and their followers across political parties and ethnic affiliations were on one another’s throats with barrage of hate speeches in course of the 2023 general election.

He explained that the Commission decided to exercise caution and tarry awhile on this hate speech issues in order to allow the tension which characterized the 2023 general election to settle down instead of contributing to heating up the polity.

According to Dr. Ojukwu, “What we are doing now is to investigate this after the election. You know election periods are tension packed period and hate speeches are also things that highly tension packed. You don’t go heat the polity. But now that the election is over, I think it is better to do the public hearing and so on… We are doing a report on that and very soon the draft will be ready.”

The Executive Secretary further commended the media for what he called “invaluable work” they do in amplifying human rights issues and giving voice to those who often go unheard.

“Your commitment to shining a light on human rights violations, promoting justice, and advocating for a fair and equitable society is commendable” he said.

He reiterated that NHRC is equally committed to its mandate of Promoting, Protecting and Enforcing human rights in the country and remains committed to its vital role in ensuring that the rights of every individual are respected and protected, regardless of their background, beliefs, or circumstances.

According to him, “The Commission is here to serve as a beacon of hope, a refuge for the oppressed, and a watchdog against any encroachment on human rights.

“Our partnership with the media is not just important; it is indispensable. Together, we can raise awareness on human rights issues, spark meaningful conversations, that leads to effective positive change. Your role as the Fourth Estate is pivotal in making this a reality”, he asserted.