The Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Dr Osagie Obayuwana, has expressed grave concern over the current state of Nigeria, stating that the nation is sinking further into a deep depression.
Speaking at the 2023 Annual General Conference of the CDHR in Ilorin, Kwara State, Dr Obayuwana lamented that Nigerians are facing unparalleled socio-economic hardships, unlike anything witnessed in the country’s history.
He criticized the government’s palliative measures, introduced in response to the removal of fuel subsidies, as insufficient to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.
“Petrol prices may soon skyrocket to N800 per litre, and the exchange rate has hit N1,200 to a dollar. The level of hardship is unbearable, and the Nigerian people cannot accept this dire situation,” Dr Obayuwana declared.
He called for a revitalized Nigeria where resources are allocated towards national development for the benefit of all citizens.
Dr Obayuwana also highlighted the distressing disparity in Nigeria’s wealth distribution, stating, “We used to have millionaires, but now we have trillionaires,” pointing to the rampant corruption while the majority of Nigerians suffer.
He assured that the CDHR is committed to defending the rights of Nigerians and urged the masses to stand united with the human rights organization.
“Let us fulfill our roles as citizens of this country to create a Nigeria that truly serves its people,” he added.
Another speaker at the event, President of the foreign relations think tank, Society of International Relations Awareness (SIRA), Owei Lakemfa, drew a contrast between the fight for human rights in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
“In more developed nations, comrades fight for human rights to advance the progress of their countries. In Nigeria, however, fighting for human rights could mean losing your life,” Lakemfa emphasized.
He further explained that advocating for human rights is approached differently in Europe compared to Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
