The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), a non-governmental, non-profit, advocacy group has faulted the persistent violation of human rights, forceful oppression and all forms of intimidation through illegal, unlawful and unpatriotic use of security forces by the present administration against members of the opposition parties.
In a statement by its Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), he condemned the recent illegal, unconstitutional and unlawful barricade of National Assembly Complex, especially the House of Representative Chamber with armed security forces, preventing the Speakers of the House from entering the Chambers to attend an important session.
He stated: “CISLAC finds it worrisome that the culture of impunity permeating political atmosphere has been launched against the National Lawmaking Chamber, where a chaotic scene took place recently as the police blocked the House of Representatives primarily to prevent the Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Representatives’ members belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC), from accessing the Chambers for the proposed special session to discuss President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for a further three-month extension of the emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.”
According to Musa, CISLAC sees it as national embarrassment that such important matter regarding the nation’s security demanding exhaustive brainstorming would be discussed in the absence of Speaker of House of Representatives. “It is shameful that such matter of national important is handled with poor political ideology, sentiment, partisanship and selfishness.”
He noted that it is surprising that instead of judicious deployed towards the provision of maximum and effective security of lives and property which remains a key challenge facing the country, Nigerian security force is deployed to nurture political sentiment and intimidating political opposition.
He continued: “CISLAC therefore, demands total respect for National Legislative Chambers, submissive to rules of law and strict adherence to human rights; calls for equal level playing field for all political candidates contesting under any accredited political party in the country.”
He further demanded for an immediate lifting of unnecessary security blockades against persons at the National Assembly to restore peace and orders, and also uphold utmost respect for the rules of law, advising all persons involved in the ongoing mischievous to avoid unconstructive political decisions that can disrupt the nation’s peace and harmony, or disregard our legislative chambers and respect the law.
Musa encouraged all well-meaning Nigerians and the media to never relent in their demands for justice, while strongly condemning all manners of impunity and violation of fundamental freedom of the citizens by any individual or institution.
“My Organization’s mission is to strengthen the link between civil society and the legislature through advocacy and capacity building for civil society groups and policy makers on legislative processes and governance issues” he added.