Human rights activists, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Senator Shehu Sani, have called for a holistic review of the nation’s Constitution to address challenges regarding nationality.
They spoke at the 2023 Human Rights Lecture, themed: “National Question in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Potential Solutions,” organised by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), in Abuja.
Leading the call, the guest lecturer, Ozekhome, said addressing economic disparities and promoting social cohesion were essential to mitigating the potential for conflicts rooted in nationality-related grievances. He stressed the need to ensure that the Constitution reflects the evolving needs of the nation, while safeguarding minority rights.
Represented by Abubakar Sani, the constitutional lawyer added that international cooperation and alignment with global norms remained crucial for effective management of transnational mobility, while upholding human rights principles.
According to him, as Nigeria continues to evolve, its success inevitably depends on the ability to navigate every challenge to social cohesion, political stability and stance in the global community.
“By fostering an inclusive sense of national identity, addressing historical injustices and adhering to international standards, Nigeria can forge a path towards a more harmonious and prosperous future for all its citizens, irrespective of their diverse backgrounds,” he added.
On his part, Sani noted that the nation’s diversity should be a source of strength, and not an avenue to promote disunity. He said if all Nigerians speak, act and behave alike, “ur country will be boring, because variety is the spice of life.”
Sani observed that the country does not only have leadership problem, but also crisis followership, which expects good leadership from people, who buy votes during elections.
The ex-federal lawmaker pointed out that no nation is without its dose of problems, explaining that the United States of America confronts racism and violence, while the United Kingdom and the People’s Republic of China tackle secession issues.
Chidi Henry Ndukwe, representative of Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), in his remarks, maintained that national development could not happen in an atmosphere of insecurity.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Adesola Olusade, who was represented by Uche Ofordile, said the nationality question has been a subject of debate for decades, giving rise to numerous challenges that demand “our collective attention and thoughtful solutions.”
Also speaking, HURIWA’s national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, advised politicians to let their actions and decisions reflect the will of the people.
He submitted that the country had been held hostage by a minority class, with politicians using every avenue to divide the people during and after elections.
The former Federal Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission decried the low turn-out of Nigerian youths at meetings to discuss issues of national importance.
