The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has raised alarm over the increasing attacks on civil society organisations in Nigeria, saying that despite the assaults, civic actors have refused to be silenced.
The organisation also paid tribute to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, 15 years after his passing.
Yar’Adua died on May 5, 2010.
Speaking at the inauguration of CHRICED’s Radio and Television Studio in Abuja on Monday, Executive Director, Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said civil society organisations are facing draconian policies meant to silence them.
“Over the last 25 years of our wobbling democracy, civil society has played an indispensable role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. It has piloted innovative solutions, mobilised communities, and fostered partnerships that bring together media, government, and development actors to address pressing social and economic challenges.
“We have supported legislative and policy reforms, advocated for pro-poor initiatives, and fought tirelessly to ensure that democracy works for all, not just the privileged few. Yet, despite these contributions, civil society remains under siege. Those who largely buy their way into power sit on the throne, belching out orders like potentates.
“Draconian policies aimed at stifling dissent threaten our existence. The National Assembly has never concealed its contempt for our work. Political opportunists and powerful figures routinely harass, intimidate, and arrest vocal civic leaders. But we refuse to be silenced,” he said.
Zikirullahi said the newly launched studio, supported by the MacArthur Foundation, would serve as a platform to challenge misinformation, amplify marginalised voices, and promote transparency and democratic accountability.
He noted that the initiative is built on four pillars: Inform, Disseminate, Educate, and Advocate (IDEA), and aims to redefine civic engagement in Nigeria.
According to him, the power of civic media lies in its ability to ignite discourse, mobilise communities, and demand accountability, saying that “today we embrace this power, wield it with purpose, and vow to never relinquish it.”
He described Yar’Adua as an uncommon leader who stood for electoral reforms, transparency, and integrity in public office.
“President Yar’Adua was an uncommon leader, one who publicly declared his assets, acknowledged the flaws in the electoral system that brought him to power, and committed to far-reaching electoral reforms. His integrity, humility, and dedication to democratic principles remain a guiding light in a political landscape desperately in need of reform,” Zikirullahi said.
Zikirullahi also honoured the late Professor Abubakar Momoh, CHRICED’s founding chairman, for his role in shaping the organisation’s mission and values.
