President Muhammadu Buhari
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…Says We’re Now Rights Group of International Repute, Shall Remain Non-conformist
The International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law (Intersociety) has said the organisation has earned formidable and enviable local and international reputation and shall at all times remain non-conformist in matters of defense and promotion of human rights (civil liberties) and rule of law, democracy and good governance as well as citizens’ security and safety.
This was contained in a strong and clear message to the federal government of Nigeria, the country’s security chiefs, and their alleged hirelings.
The message was signed by its principal officers headed by its Board Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi.
According to the rights body, “Our avowed commitment and social contract with the citizens of Nigeria and the world must be the case at all times.
“It must also be reminded that the thematic areas above are the core foundation upon which Intersociety was founded 12 years ago or in 2008.
“Intersociety as a bona fide, indigenous, domesticated, legalized and respected rights body fears no one in Nigeria or any part thereof. This is more so when no Government or public office appointment lasts forever.
“Holding Nigerian Government and the country’s security actors accountable over breaches, violations and abuses of these six thematic areas remains our core focus; likewise holding non state actors accountable for grisly or ‘industrial scale’ rights abuses and violations.
“Nigerian Government and the country’s security chiefs are therefore called upon to revise their hostile and clandestine attitudes towards defense and defenders of human rights in the country as same human rights belong to all members of the human family including present political office holders, security chiefs and their hirelings.
“Opportunities abound for the country’s security chiefs and political office holders to carry out their duties and functions in consonance with the int’l best practices including the int’l rules of engagement (i.e. use of force, proportionality of same and outlawing killing of unarmed and defenseless citizens and hate soldiering and policing) in war and non war situations; as any derogation from any of them must be accounted for if not now, certainly in the near future”, the Intersociety said.
Other principal officers of the civil liberties who signed the statement include Chinwe Umeche, Esq., (Head of Democracy & Good Governance), Obianuju Igboeli, Esq., (Head of Civil Liberties & Rule of Law), Ndidiamaka Catherine Bernard, Esq., (Head of Int’l Justice & Human Rights) and Comrade Samuel Kamanyaoku (Head of Field Data Collection & Documentation).
The group further that the Intersociety was further inspired by the trio of Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Nigeria’s Civil Liberties Organization.
According to the statement, the founder of Intersociety, Emeka Umeagbalasi, had “at one time or the other served the trio in various capacities including coordination of the Onitsha Amnesty Int’l Group (1997-1998), International Associate Member of Human Rights Watch (1997-1998) and Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Branch of the Civil Liberties Organization (1998-1999), its Vice Chairman (1999-2001), its State Chairman (2001-2007) and Vice Chairman, Southeast Zone of the Organization (2005-2007).
“As a matter of fact, Emeka Umeagbalasi who founded Intersociety has been a grassroots human rights and democracy activist and campaigner since 1995 when he was 26.
“Also for purpose of setting the record straight, International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law is expert and voluntary rights and democracy advocacy group.
“In other words, it is an assemblage of professionals drawn from academic fields of criminology, security studies, law, journalism and peace and conflict and ICT, etc, who freely pulled and are still freely pulling their expertise together (in-kind resource) for purpose of service to humanity.
“In other words, none of us is paid. Intersociety also engages in research, investigation, documentation and publications-all of which have earned us a reputable name.
“We also enjoy robust goodwill from Nigeria and int’l media which publish our advocacy activities free of charge or pro bono where necessary.
“Today, Intersociety has grown into a rights group of international repute belonging to different international rights coalitions including International Alliance against Genocide.
“In the area of funding, Intersociety wishes to repeat that it relies on donations from credible individuals, especially the non-politically corrupt and exposed persons.
“In other words, most of the donations are individually and locally received and Intersociety does not seek for donations unless if the need arises.
“For instance, when the need arose for the payment of our 2020 office rent, website technical services, Jan-March salaries of our admin staffers and other operational costs; all valued at over N750, 000, letters seeking for support were sent to six persons and we received cash donations amounting to almost N1m.
“It is also record breaking that Intersociety has operated from 2008 when it was founded till date without a dime as received international grant and what we have achieved is indisputably unrivalled.
“We have been exposing and documenting rights abuses and violations and seeking for their permanent end and punishment of their perpetrators.
“We have also at all times been standing with vulnerable and victimized people or groups; distancing ourselves from the perpetrators.
“These explain why we have risen in strong defense of Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, Christians, Traditionalists, vulnerable and defenseless women and children killed or maimed outside the law.
“We have also risen in strong defense of the marginalized service personnel in the country’s security forces including Igbo officers presently facing threats of extinction in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Intelligence Agencies and the Nigeria Police Force and members of the Traffic Warden Service of the Nigeria Police Force whose ordeal caught our attention since 2011”, the Intersociety.
The rights group said that it is therefore on record that “one of the tragedies that has befallen Nigeria since the emergence of Buhari/Osinbajo central Government Nigeria five years ago was the infiltration of the country’s once robust rights community by Government hirelings masquerading as “human rights activists/groups” as well as “the crossover and conscienceless rights activists/groups”.
“In today’s Nigeria, “human rights activists and groups” have become undertakers hired to organize mock burials and funerals for human rights defenders and groups.
“They have also become rented crowd of protesters, ‘protesting at foreign missions”. There are also mothers of children among them who have sold their souls to the devil and become defenders of the oppressors and butchers.
“There are also ‘e-rats rights activists’ as well as mushroom rights groups dotted here and there. Even in the mainstream Human Rights and Democracy Community, a lot of water has passed under the bridge.
“We are therefore deeply pained to inform Nigerian citizens and the world that on July 13, 2017 when Prof Yemi Osinbajo held sway as the country’s Acting President, one phantom group and a military hireling, by name “the Center for International and Strategic Studies, Abuja” addressed a Government sponsored media conference in Abuja and falsely claimed that “it has unraveled plots by some foreign backed groups to destabilize and rubbish the sovereignty of the country”.
“The hired group mentioned the trio of Amnesty International, IPOB and Intersociety as the groups behind the phantom plot. It further named one Professor Shuabu Danfulani, a professor of law and Dr. Ifure Ataifure as its “researchers”.
“As if that was not enough, suspected agents of the Nigerian Government went and doctored our statement of 2nd June 2017 in which we assessed the performances of some Igbo political figures both as Govs and Legislators including former Gov Peter Obi and Senator Ike Ekweremadu and also mentioned names of those who had contributed in one way or the other towards the success of our advocacy activities. Surprisingly and shockingly, suspected State agents doctored the statement and planted same in some media outfits on 4th June 2017 with a criminal titled: “Intersociety Names Peter Obi, Ike Ekweremadu, 21 Others As Sponsors Of Insurgency Of The Pro Biafran Groups”.
“Lately or just three days ago, same Government, through one of its hirelings, by name: “Center for Social Justice, Equity & Transparency”; caused another phantom story against Intersociety to be published in different newspapers, titled: Intersociety Clandestinely Running Terrorist Organization in Nigeria-CESJET.
“The hireling said it is “raising an alarm over the existence, secret sponsorship and operation of a terrorist organization in the Southern part of the country”; that “it is fingering Intersociety to be behind the sect”.
“It cited our investigation into the Obigbo Army/Gov Wike instigated Massacre as its “reference point”. Our intelligence has since traced the fake group to the same Nigerian Government and military quarters, as was the case twice in 2017”, the Intersociety said.
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