The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) has faulted the complacency with which the Nigerian government was handling some pressing issues that were meant to be treated otherwise.
Executive Director, CHRICED, Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi relayed this in a press conference on the state of the nation on Thursday, December 16, 2021 in Abuja.
TheFact Nigeria gathered that people were grossly disappointed by the current administration for not living up to their campaign promises.
Dr. Zikirullahi, in his speech titled: “Nigerians Can No Longer Breathe As Impunity, Insecurity, And Bad Governance Ravages The Land”, spoke extensively on burning issues facing the country, ranging from insecurity, economic hardship, shrinking civil space and the forth coming general elections.
In retrospect, he recalled that the citizenry had high hopes, coming in to the year, seeing the previous one was tough due to the covid-19 pandemic but those hopes were shattered by the government’s cold-shouldered response to their plight.
He decried the unbearable inflation rate pointing out that people could barely feed. He therefore suggested that government respond to the astronomical cost of basic commodities by cutting down on wastage in government due to corruption, mismanagement and also by mandating its economic team to come up with measures, which could stabilize the prices of essentials.
The CHRICED Boss noted with concern what he described as the increased shrinking of the civic space in order to stifle the voices of journalists, frontline activists and human rights campaigners.
He said:
“Even in cases where the State is not directly carrying out the attacks against citizens, activists and journalists, there is now an emerging trend of mobilizing thugs and street urchins to inflict harm on those who insist on invoking their right to demand accountability from government”, he lamented.
He observed that the shrinking of civil space was taking its toll on the anti-corruption program of the government, citing examples with Mr. Olarenwaju Suraj, Chairman of HEDA who was being prosecuted for exposing those involved in looting of the Nigerian treasury through the Malabu Oil Block deal and Mr. Fisayo Soyombo who exposed the unbridled corruption in the construction of Police Transit Camps in several states.
Lamenting the insecurity bedeviling the country, Dr. Ibrahim said: “Like never before, Nigeria’s territorial integrity and its internal security have been severely compromised by relentless groups of terrorists. It is equally clear that the criminals who engage in these dastardly acts have no fear or respect for the capacity of the state to arrest, prosecute and bring them to justice.
“The tragedy is that the government which should defend the lives and property of citizens has continued to project weakness because it has woefully failed to summon the courage to act beyond routine platitudes and lamentations”, he said.
Proferring solution to the insecurity menace, the Activist said: “Given the enormity of the situation, the only way out is for the government to arrest and expose the backers, and sponsors of terrorist gangs, whom the government claimed it knows.
“Government should also take a critical look at all the recruitments into the military, police and Department of State Security Service and other security agencies to be sure the right people are in charge of running Nigeria’s security architecture”, said Dr. Zikirullahi.
The CHRICED Boss afterwards called on citizens to brace up to use the electoral process to put in place leaders at all levels, who would work for the interest, welfare and security of the people.
He then admonition those who believe the country could be salvaged, to triple their efforts in holding the government accountable and thus allieviating the citizens’ sufferings.
