A lot has been said about human
rights before now, particularly in Nigeria. Despite the alarmingly large number
of books and articles on human rights as well as organizations, there is no
doubt that human rights abuses still exist.
One would have thought that with
the colossal attention given to human rights in Nigeria and the world, flagrant
human rights violations should be a thing of the past. Sadly, this is not true.
“Despite the
alarmingly large number of books and articles on human rights as well as
organizations, there is no doubt that human rights abuses still exist.”
Why then are there still so many
cases of human rights abuse? I have meditated on this question in the manner
that a monk in seclusion would meditate. I have read so many books and articles
on human rights hoping that I would find the answer to my question. I did find
answers alright albeit not in the way I expected.
I did not get answers from the
contents of the books I read. Rather, I got answers from what the books did not
contain. Many authors write about human rights in a way that only lawyers and a
few other esoteric individuals would find relevant. Thus, there are so many
materials on human rights, but how many of them actually make meaning to the
common man?
“There are so many
materials on human rights, but how many of them actually make meaning to the
common man?”
The common man is not necessarily
an illiterate. The expression “common man” as used in this context, includes
but is not limited to a person who cannot read and write. The common man could
be a professional albeit in another field of study such as medicine, history,
politics, education, accounting, economics, psychology, physics, religion, and
so on.
At any rate, what qualifies a
person as a common man or layman in the eyes of the law is lack of professional
training, specialized knowledge and understanding of law as well as the
practice of law. So then, whether educated or uneducated, the common man is one
who does not have the requisite training in the field of law and so cannot appreciate
the law as a lawyer would.
“What qualifies a
person as a common man or layman in the eyes of the law is lack of professional
training, specialized knowledge and understanding of law as well as the
practice of law.”
After diligent research and critical
thinking, I am positive that in order to grossly reduce human rights abuses
(because human rights violations can only be reduced but cannot be completely
wiped out) people other than lawyers must know, understand and appreciate the
law. In other words, the common man must know, understand and appreciate the
importance of enforcing his rights.
“In order to grossly
reduce human rights abuses, people other than lawyers must know, understand and
appreciate the law.”
People, especially in Nigeria, do
not like enforcing their rights. Whenever their rights are trampled upon, there
is often a perplexing reluctance on their part to positively pursue the
issue.
People seem to assume that the
Nigerian system is hopelessly incorrigible such that there is just nothing they
can do whenever their rights are infringed upon especially by a higher
authority or personality. The general attitude of Nigerians is to leave
everything to God.
Have you ever wondered why
lawyers do not leave everything to God? The reason is because God will not come
down and defend their rights for them. Lawyers, or at least most of them,
understand and appreciate the importance of enforcing their rights.
Whenever a lawyer’s right is
being or is likely to be encroached upon, he will attack the issue with an
acute doggedness. Asides lawyers, there are few others with this mindset who
will never shy away when their rights have been contravened.
“Nigerians are reluctant
to enforce their rights. They really shouldn’t be.”
So, it’s little wonder that
security operatives treat lawyers with some form of caution which they
ordinarily would withhold from the common man. Ever cared to ask yourself why,
in most instances, such persons become nervous when they cross paths with
lawyers?
It is not because of the fact
that a lawyer knows the law but that he understands and appreciates the
importance of defending his rights coupled with the dogged attitude that he
will go to any length to challenge anyone who encroaches on his rights.
It is this attitude that
frightens people and security operatives in particular. Owing to this, lawyers
are rarely victims of human rights abuse so much so that anytime it happens, it
becomes news.
“Victims of human
rights violations should abandon the leave —it —to —God attitude and pursue the
matter with acute doggedness until justice is done.”
Therefore,
if human rights abuses must be drastically reduced, the common man must imbibe
and emulate this attitude of lawyers.
However,
in the process of doing so, it is very important that the common man knows and
understands the various rights that exist in Nigerian law, examples of various
circumstances under which one can rightly say that such rights have been
contravened, as well as how to go about defending same.
Cases
of human rights contravention should not be overlooked. Victims of human rights
violations should abandon the leave —it —to —God attitude and pursue the matter
with acute doggedness until justice is done. For justice to be done, justice
must be pursued.
Moreover,
the financial and other costs should not be a deterrent to victims of human
rights abuse because human rights which are rights that accrue to us as human
beings are more important than money.
“Victims of human
rights violation should not weigh their pocket and their rights on a scale and
choose their money because human rights are more important than money.”
People
should respond to human rights violations with the same degree of attention
they give to an ailment or disease. No one who is suffering from a disease
that requires prompt surgery will ignore that disease.
In
fact, the patient will do everything possible to ensure that the disease is
treated. This is so because people understand and appreciate the state of good
health. Besides, they know that if that disease or ailment is not treated, it
could develop into something worse which could cost them their lives.
Human
rights contravention is a disease and since victims are in the habit of not
pursuing justice, the infection will continue to spread like cancer to every
nook and cranny of society therefore breading a ready atmosphere for privileged
individuals, corporate entities, government agencies and the likes to continue
to trample on the rights of others.
“Human rights
contravention is a disease and since victims are in the habit of not pursuing
justice, the infection will continue to spread like cancer.”
The
implication of ignoring cases of human rights contravention is that the
perpetrators of such reprehensible acts will believe that they can do just
about anything and get away with it.
Believe
me, if people do not wake up, human rights abuses will never stop. Then the
fault would not lie in the Nigerian system, and truly it does not, but in the
Nigerian people.
Hence,
the common man must not only know his rights but he must know, understand and
appreciate the importance of defending those rights. If he continues to sleep
on his rights, he cannot blame the system but himself.
Do we really have rights in Nigeria? I mean, is there a place where these rights are even written?
ReplyDeleteYes we do have rights in Nigeria. Most, but not all of them are written. The most important is Fundamental Human Rights and they are called fundamental because they are contained in the Constitution of Nigeria. They are about 12 in number and I will talk about them in subsequent posts. Apart from fundamental human rights, there are social, cultural, economic and other rights. It will not be appropriate to address them in a comment like this but I sure will address them in subsequent posts. We really do have rights in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteEven if there are rights like you said, we don't see them at work. Things are just bad. The law is not working.
ReplyDeleteSara our laws are not perfect. I totally agree. In fact its hard to get justice. But we have to fight to make it better and that's what I'm trying to do. You need to understand that things will only get worse if we keep shying away. People still get justice and because they do, there's still something worth fighting for in our system.
DeleteAre you trying to say I can get justice when a policeman or soldier beat and slap me?
ReplyDelete@Sara. There's no country in the world with perfect laws. Our laws are not perfect but they really work. When you said you don't see the law at work, I don't know what you expect to see but as a lawyer I know it works. It is not perfect but it works. People do not like to enforce their rights. They just keep quiet when someone violates their rights. It is not the work of lawyers to go round looking for people whose rights have been violated. If your rights are violated, you go and to assist you and see if the law doesn't work.
ReplyDelete@Zikko. Yes you can get justice. A policeman or soldier beating you in public is a serious fundamental rights violation. You shouldn't keep quiet about such things. You can claim damages, demand public apology, and so on. There are so many cases like yours where victims have gotten justice. In many of them, the Policeman or soldier will even be suspended. Don't just keep quiet. Speak out through a lawyer. For justice to be done, justice must be pursued.
ReplyDeleteYou are right sha. I didn't do anything about it. I just went and tried to forget about it. People said I will just waste my money trying to get a lawyer that it is not worth it.
ReplyDeleteAce Lawyer you have spoken well. I am glad that you are doing this. Trying to educate people through a medium like this is splendid and well thought off. Ignoring cases of human right violation will only increase human rights violation. But if people start pursing their rights, those wicked people will start thinking twice before abusing people. The deterrent strategy. Nice one.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much. Having an ally feels soooooooo gooooooood!!!!!!!!!!
Delete@Zikko. The ace lawyer has said it all and I have nothing to add. If you read his post very well you'll see that human rights are more important than money and I agree. Sometimes it is not all about the money you will spend. It is about the joy of asserting your right. When you ignore your cases like that, those policemen will never learn. They will continue to do it even more. Pls don't die in silence. Talk to someone who can help you like a lawyer that is how you will know whether the law works or not.
ReplyDelete