The former Director General of Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, has posited that promotion and protection of human rights will continue remain illusive in Africa because African leaders are bereft of the political will to achieve the objectives.
He said that it is not in the interests of the African governments and leaders to ensure actualization of human rights in all facets of life because of their desire to perpetually entrench themselves in office.
He spoke while delivering a lecture at the Human Rights Day lecture to mark the 2021 International human rights day celebration organised by the National Human Rights Commission, in Abuja. The lecture title is “Promotion and protection of human rights in the post Covid-19 era: The challenge of International cooperation and reactive attitudinal disposition”
He maintained that human rights is synonymous with “honesty of purpose, dignity of purpose, integrity of purpose. Corruption is not about stealing money, embezzlement; when you’re dishonest with yourself, never can you be able to be honest with another person. It is not possible.
“So, political governance in Nigeria, Africa and black world is largely predicated in dishonesty and that is why it is always very easy to abuse, to violet human rights.”
Prof. Akinterinwa wondered if it is possible for the Federal Government to prevail on their agents, security agents from abusing women, prevent them from violating human rights.
According to him, “African government doesn’t like staying in power for three, four years as constitutionally provided for. They don’t like it, probably it is in their blood stream. That is why they always find a way of amending the constitution to ensure that permanently, they are there. They are either in the corridor or they are permanently inside but they don’t leave power and they don’t want anybody to take power from them.
“So, the issue is that human rights is in critical problem. It is a threat to any African leader. If anybody says any African government is interested in protecting, you may be right, I may be wrong. But the psychology of human differences will allow me to take a different position. I do not believe that anyone of them.
“If a president of any given country cannot do his best in the first four years, cannot do his best for another four year, when will he be able to do his best? Is it 30 years after?
“I will tell you why for instance, it cannot be possible for any African government to truly seek protection for human rights. It is not in their own rights, it is not. For example, here in Nigeria, the representatives in the National Assembly have just decided that there should free primary elections direct. You know the implications, direct primaries simply means that you’ll no longer be under the control of the political party, there is no God fatherism in it. We know the challenges of course.
“The constitution requires that the political parties be in charge but the political parties the way they operate, it is scientific corruption. It is here in Nigeria for instance, you’ll not even register to contest but you’ll win election.”
Further on post Covid-19 era, he maintained that Nigeria, Africa and the world are yet to witness post Covid-19 era.
He said:”When you look at promoting and protecting human rights in the post COVID-19 era, there is very serious problem without concept. I do not believe that there is anything like post Covid-19. When will there be post Covid-19 era? I positing here that if there is to be post Covid-19 era, it is not for now. It is for a distant future.
“So, those who manufactured virus, the know the mutations already. They have an advance knowledge. If we want to promote and protect human rights in the post Covid-19 era, then we must first of all agree as to when the post Covid-19 era will begin. If we do not agree on that, then any strategic calculation you have in mind will not be significant to the reality on ground.
“The second point is that since we are talking about post Covid-19 era that is yet to exist, methodologically, the analytical framework can only be conjectural, that is speculation. So, in this case I think, you can continue to think but the thinking can not have a foundation
“Now, we want to strengthen international cooperation. Before you can cooperate, there are some dynamics. First of all, where is the political will, where does it exist? I don’t share the view that Nigeria is doing well on Human Rights, according to the past improved records given to Nigeria.”
The high point of the programme was the conferring of 2021 Human rights Awards on Governors of Borno and Rivers States, Prof. Bananas Zulum and Nyesom Wike, respectively.
Also, the Executive Director/CEO of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib and the Executive Director, Women Advocacy Research and Documentation Centre, Dr. Vanilla Akiyode Afolabi, respectively received awards on federal MDAs and CSOs categories.
News6 days ago
News1 week ago
Business News1 week ago