DIRECTOR of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Lagos State office, Lukas Koyejo, has stated that freedom of expression remains the lifeblood of democracy and a critical safeguard against authoritarian rule in Nigeria, cautioning that any attempt to silence citizens, journalists or activists threatens the country’s constitutional order.

Koyejo spoke yesterday at the 20th yearly memorial lecture held in Lagos in honour of the first national president of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), late Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, a foremost human rights advocate and pro-democracy campaigner.

He said freedom of expression, guaranteed under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, was not a decorative provision but a binding obligation on all arms of government.

According to him, the right is foundational to political participation, social justice, accountability and free and fair elections.

The NHRC director noted that Nigeria’s commitments under international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights have elevated freedom of expression to a universal and enforceable right within the country’s legal framework.

He stressed that intimidation of the press or suppression of dissent is not only unconstitutional but a violation of Nigeria’s international obligations.

Koyejo expressed concern over what he described as a shrinking civic space despite the end of military rule, citing increasing harassment, arrests and intimidation of journalists, activists and social media users.

Earlier, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) marked 20 years since the passing of Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti with a renewed call for principled activism, unity and accountability in governance.

CDHR President, Debo Adeniran, in his welcome address, described Ransome-Kuti as more than a medical doctor, calling him “a moral doctor for a nation wounded by repression.”

Adeniran said the late activist played pivotal roles in strengthening civil society through organisations such as the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Campaign for Democracy, CDHR, Centre for Constitutional Governance, Citizens Forum and other labour and civil society coalitions.

In their separate remarks, Prof. Oluwafemi Obayori of Lagos State University (LASU), and the monarch of Gnomima Ekiti, Oba Rufus Ajayi, the Arilewola Obagbaja II, Oba of Gbomina Ekiti, Tapa Kingdom, extolled the virtues of Ransome-Kuti.