Why Nigerians expect radical change from Tinubu – Human Rights Community

A coalition of civil society groups on Thursday honoured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his contributions to democracy in Nigeria. This is just as the group asked Tinubu to address the growing concerns over high cost of living, inflation, unemployment among others, saying Tinubu being a President from the human rights community must work towards […]

A coalition of civil society groups on Thursday honoured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his contributions to democracy in Nigeria.

This is just as the group asked Tinubu to address the growing concerns over high cost of living, inflation, unemployment among others, saying Tinubu being a President from the human rights community must work towards changing the status quo and making life better for an average Nigerian.

The award was part of the efforts to recognise the role of President Tinubu and other leading figures in the struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC), A COALITON OF 135 CIVIL SOCIETY AND COMMUNITY BASED GROUPS SPREAD ACROSS NIGERIA also honoured Nobel Laureate winner Prof. Wole Soyinka, former General Secretary, National Democratic Coalition,(NADECO), Chief Ayo Opadokun and NADECO Chieftain Hon Wale Osun.

“There would have been no democracy without June 12. Nigerians made sacrifices. People laid down their lives for peace and prosperity of Nigeria. Many people were killed. Many were maimed. It is important to continue to reward these heroes to let them know Nigeria value their past and present contributions,” the group said.

It noted that Nigerians are passing through very difficult moments characterised by high cost of living, corruption, ineptitude, insecurity and growing number of economically displaced people.

The group said it hoped the award would stimulate the President to listen to the hues and cries of Nigerians in order for him to address their fears and meet their aspirations.

‘The June 12 Anniversary is significant. Ironically it coincides with the one year Anniversary of President Tinubu. Nigerians expect a radical change from Tinubu’s government because he is the first candidate from the human rights constituency that has ever emerged as the President of the country.

Nigerians are looking up to him to bring the country back from the brink’ NHRC said.

The group also gave awards to private concerns, Pipeline Infrastructure for peace building, conflict prevention and community empowerment in the Nigeria.

The group described PIPB as the pillar of job creation, peace and conflict prevention in the Niger Delta.

The event held at the Airport Hotel in Lagos with over 800 people from across Nigeria in attendance.

In attendance were Chief Opadokun, Prince Onuwaje, the Director General Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN Mr Seye Oyeleye and Mr Babatunde Ogala, SAN, among others.

The coalition said each of the awardees has made inestimable sacrifices for democracy and liberty in Nigeria right form their twenties.

In the speech signed by NHRC officials, Mallam Kudu Mohammed, Taiwo Adeleye and Noel Ebiri, the organiser said the award was part of activities marking the 31 years after the annulment of the June 12 Presidential election.

The group said it was honouring the heroes and non-state actors that are helping democracy to survive as as to serve as inspiration to Nigerians and also to remind the people that Nigeria must never return to military rule. It said in the face of the challenges facing the country, democracy is better than the most malevolent military rule.

The NHRC was established in 2007 as a coalition of 135 civil society, community-based and human rights organisations spread across the 36 states of the Federation. The NHRC has played very important interventionist roles since its creation. The Green Peoples Environmental Network, GREPNET a key partner in this project was established in the year 2000 as a leading pro-green environmental group.