A rights group, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, believes the Bola Tinubu administration is no different from the administration of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, in terms of human rights violation, suppression of opposition and disregard for the Nigerian Constitution.
RULAAC is of the opinion that President Tinubu’s administration has continued the practices of the previous Buhari regime, including the detention of individuals beyond the legally permissible duration.
The Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma made the disclosure while speaking on the continued detention of protesters during the August #EndBadGovernance# protesters across the country.
Some of the protesters are still in custody, with stringent bail conditions and unpalatable treatment meted out to them.
According to Nwanguma, despite Tinubu’s stated commitment to upholding the rule of law, his government’s actions seem to tell a different story.
This he said, is indeed surprising, given his past as a pro-democracy advocate in Nigeria.
The RULAAC boss condemned the government’s support of security agencies to perpetrate inhuman acts against citizens who dare to oppose observed obnoxious policies of the government.
“The rule of law and human rights protection are fundamental aspects of a just society.
“In Nigeria, the judiciary plays a crucial role in enforcing court judgments and safeguarding human rights.
“However, the government’s endorsement of security and law enforcement agencies’ actions, which violate the Constitution, undermines these principles,” he said.
Nwanguma noted that to address these concerns, President Tinubu must ensure that his government upholds the Constitution and protects human rights.
He advocated constitutional reforms, judicial independence, and government accountability, as ways through which the Tinubu administration could begin to redeem itself.
Nwanguma opined; “The government must implement reforms to prevent security agencies from acting outside the Constitution, ensure the judiciary remains independent and impartial in enforcing court judgments, as well as hold security and law enforcement agencies accountable for their actions.
“Notably, President Tinubu has pledged to support the judiciary in upholding the Constitution and promoting the rule of law. Yet, actions speak louder than words.
“The administration must take concrete steps to address these issues and restore faith in the government’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law.”
