03 May 2009 |
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The Implications of Global Citizenship and The Notion of Fundamental Human Rights Abdulmumuni Yinka Ajia My recent piece on the Vaswani brothers, Mahesh, Harish and Sunil, elicited mixed reactions from different Nigerians. As expected, some accused me of acting as a front for the Vaswanis. Let me issue the following disclaimer; I have neither met nor have any business relationship with the Vaswanis. What prompted me to write was the same reason that prompted me to issue caution on Alameiyesia few years ago when most were ready to lynch him without a trial. It was Dr. Martin Luther King jr. that warned us that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. The spirit of natural justice is what makes me find myself on the other side of these kinds of debate. It is instructive for us to note that because Nigeria is not run the way it should, yesterday’s power brokers are now hounded both at home and abroad by today’s power brokers. Just as yesterday’s power brokers refused to tow the rule of law and use the principle of fairness and fundamental human rights as their guides, today’s power brokers are trampling on their rights and they are using all the resources of state to wage a personal vendetta against the likes of Ribadu and El Rufai. It is like a cycle, today’s power brokers will be hunted by tomorrows’. And the cycle goes on. Until Nigerians put a stop to this witch hunting game, this country will continue to tether on the edge of irresponsibility. It does not matter to me the race or religion of the people involved in this case, what is important is the way they were treated. I am of the opinion that they were mistreated by the Nigerian state and the fact of the matter does not warrant the action that was taken by the state. That the said individuals also committed other vices is a different matter altogether. If the state determines that they should be brought to trial, by all means I am all for it. To suggest like some have that because most Indians, Chinese and Lebanese have at various times being accused of criminal behaviour against the Nigerian state and people does not permit the state to act the way it did. It would amount to suggesting that because most Europeans and Americans have tagged Nigerians as internet scammers then anytime a Nigerian business man has a brush with the law, the next thing is for his host country to deport him pronto without any regard to the law. Nigeria is not an island unto itself, we must begin to respect the laws for which we are signatory to. Below is one of those treaties that we are signatory to from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights;
“Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as stated in the Charter of the United Nations and as elaborated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other applicable human rights instruments, Recalling that Nigeria is a party to, inter alia, the International Covenants on Human Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination”
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