On Wednesday, the International Human Rights Commission Ambassador, Dr Duru Hezekiah, urged the Federal Government to hold talks with bandits, Yoruba nation agitators, and the Indigenous People of Biafra in order to restore peace to Nigeria.
The commission expressed alarm over the flight of Nigerian youngsters abroad while blaming the country’s poor economy for kidnapping, banditry, and killings, among other types of insecurity.
Dr Duru Hezekiah, the IHRC’s Ambassador at Large and Head of Diplomatic Missions in Nigeria, made these remarks to journalists in Abuja on September 21, 2022, the annual International Peace Day.
Combating The Threat of Youth Exodus
In order to combat the threat of a youth exodus, he encouraged President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to declare a state of emergency.
“Due to the poor economic and security, many Nigerians are emigrating to the West and other regions of the world. People in the host countries would begin treating us like beggars when our people left the country in search of better opportunities elsewhere. Young people are moving because of the poor economy. We must band together in order to advance our nation. “Those who are overseas will undoubtedly return when they notice improvements in the economy and security,” according to the IHRC.
Dr Duru Hezekiah noted that violent crimes and discrimination against people based on their colour, nationality, immigrant status, or religion were on the rise everywhere in the world and posed a threat to mankind. More of such stories could be read here Credible News
He contends that the government needs to address the underlying reasons behind the nation’s insecurity.
Hezekiah contends that the government must address other sociological issues like poverty, unemployment, and a lack of appropriate education in order to address the underlying reasons of insecurity in the nation.
Dr Hezekiah declared, “This platform is a channel through which we may communicate with the administration. We must comprehend why people are carrying weapons, which is the poor state of the economy. Our youngsters must put down their weapons and engage in conversation.
Support Conversation and Negotiation to Address the Insecurity
Dr Duru Hezekiah said: “At the organisation, we don’t think in crisis or protest. We support conversation and negotiation. In order to address the insecurity, our youth—whether they are from the north, east, or west—must engage in discourse. The majority of those responsible for these murders lack education and employment.
“Talking about the insecurity problem in Nigeria is like talking about a disease; we need to treat the disease from the inside out. This banditry has a reason at its core. What do they genuinely desire? Why are they doing this? In actuality, motives vary. Even if what we believe the Indigenous People of Biafra want is beyond what we can now see, if you come to the South East, we have them and we know what they want. More of such stories could be read here Credible News
Dr Hezekiah continues, “Even though there is no commerce in the South-East on Mondays, many nevertheless choose not to go to work on those days. That implies that there is a fundamental concept we must understand.
“I am confident that my appointment as the IHRC’s diplomatic head will provide us with several opportunities and a path forward. Read more of such stories at Credible News below.
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“I think that my appointment as the IHRC’s diplomatic chief will give us a channel and plenty of opportunity to approach people who are carrying guns and ask them to put them down. Let’s engage the government and reason together. Even the east is within reach. When we finally get it right, our people will return and make investments. Nigeria would be a better country with this platform we have today.
Alarm Over Departure of Young People from Nigeria to Other Nations
Dr Duru Hezekiah also expressed alarm about the departure of young people from Nigeria to other nations, saying that this problem requires the declaration of an emergency.
The recent attacks on jails across the nation were connected to congestion earlier in Dr. Friday Sanni’s presentation as the Head of IHRC African Diplomatic Missions.
Duru Hezekiel emphasised the necessity of adopting non-custodial sanctions like suspended sentences, community service, and fines, among others, in Nigeria’s legal system.
“The non-custodial sentencing that Justice Ishaq Bello, the former Chief Judge of the FCT, introduced is no longer being respected, which is why the prison, which had space for 50 inmates, is now housing 500 individuals,” the judge said. This is another reason why intruders are more likely to target our prisons. All of the violence in the nation will be history if we have an active justice system, according to Sanni.
In order to ensure that the elections in 2023 are held in a peaceful environment, he continued, the organisation would be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Conference of Nigerian political parties. More of such stories could be read here Credible News and The Cheer News
