OBIARUKU/Nigeria: The Centre for Education Development and Skills Acquisition Initiative (CEDESA) have called on the youths to arise and speak up against injustices, abuse and the outright breach of fundamental human rights going on in the country.
This call was made during the public lecture organised by CEDESA a non-governmental organisation to mark the 2019 World Human Rights Day tagged “Youths Stand Up for Human Rights”, held in Obiaruku, Ukwuani Local Government Area.
In her address, the Chief Executive Officer and founder of CEDESA, Mrs Ugbe Oluronke Iyabo noted that the youths are the driving force of any society; she therefore called on them to wake up from their slumber and know their fundamental rights and know how best to relate with the rest of the society.
According to her, “youths are the engine room of the society wake up and take your place. Human rights are to humans what water is to fishes and so, you should know what your rights are; learn how to live peacefully with other citizens and in whatever you do, stay within the ambit of the law at all times”, she added.
Speaking at the event, Barr. Johnson Happy Ijeoma, detailed on citizenship, the place and roles of the youths in the society and in nation building and the fundamental rights of any citizen of Nigeria. He stated that “rights” are entitlements, inalienable and God given. “Unfortunately, if you don’t know what your rights are, how do you defend them”, he asked.
Quoting 1Timothy 4:12 from the Bible, Barr. Ijeoma, a notary public Esquire challenged the youths not to let any man despise them because they are youths but rather, they should study and know what their God-given rights are and know where to seek redress when they are breached. “Nobody should discriminate you anywhere within Nigeria, you being a Nigerian is backed by the constitution and so, nobody is more Nigerian than you are”, he enthused.
While reiterating CEDESA stance on rights are, he sited Chapter 4 Section 34 – 44 of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution as amended stating that right to life, right to human dignity, right to freedom of expression, right to freedom of movement, right to freedom of assembly and association amongst others are some of the inalienable rights of every citizen of this country and according to him, no one has the right to violate another persons’ rights except as on the case of the breach of law.
He lamented the carefree attitudes of the youths on matters that bothers on the violation of the rights of some citizens while “we sit back and analyse what should have been done or should not have been done instead of standing up against injustices”, he added.
“Cry out whenever human rights are been violated. Today, some overzealous security operatives believe that any young man carrying bags, laptops, expensive phones or wearing expensive watches must be a yahoo boy; youths are been arrested everyday and we are relaxed because it has not happened to us. We are doing nothing, we might be victims tomorrow”, he stated.
“Don’t wait till you are ill-treated before you speak up. Say no to injustice anytime and anywhere; the strength of the oppressor is in the weakness of the oppressed. Stand up for the truth. Defend your rights. Don’t applaud the oppressors and don’t join people to discriminate anybody”, he said.
He however identified some hindrances to the promotion of human rights to include; ignorance of what the fundamental human rights are; poverty, fear and delay in the administration of justice.
Barr. Ijeoma therefore urged the youths to get themselves with the contents of the Nigeria Constitution 1999 as amended; he also advised that the youths should be cautious in the exercise of human rights while adding that there are exceptions in law even to the fundamental human rights.
