“I believe that the demands of the #EndSARS Protesters’ are credible and fall within the rights of every Nigerian citizen as encapsulated both in the Nigerian Constitution and Regional and International instruments.” This is the position of the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Archdiocese of Lagos. Rev. Fr. Raymond Anoliefo, the Director, JDPC testifies, “These issues of human rights abuses abound in our society and we realize that when reported, the country’s leadership goes into denial mode as we can see with regards to the senseless massacre of innocent Nigerian youths across the country on 20th October, 2020,” and demands, “All those involved in that dastardly act must be brought to book. People should not be allowed to get away with wanton abuse of human rights regardless of how highly placed they are in society.” Read excerpts of the interview shares his views on the #EndSARS protests, JDPC’s impact on the society and current burning national issues.
For some days now Nigerian youths have continued to storm the streets daily in protest against violations of human rights, extortion, extrajudicial killings and other forms of ill treatment by the police that has lingered for several years. Has JDPC, at anytime, made interventions to combat the aforementioned illegalities perpetrated by the Nigerian Police Force bearing in mind that one of its core responsibilities borders on defense of fundamental human rights?
Yes, the JDPC has conducted myriad interventions to combat the gross human right violations of Nigerian citizens in Lagos State. It has made these interventions via its Legal Department by offering pro bono counsel and representation to victims of police brutality and misconduct. Also, the JDPC has consistently held press conferences and made press releases to the effect.
Does the #EndSARS protest have the buy-in of the JDPC?
Absolutely! The JDPC stands in solidarity with the objectives of the #EndSARS protest. The protest is legitimate and is a symptom of the decay that has for long ravaged our society. It is a reflection of the ineptitude that is the hallmark of our nation’s leadership. The protest was largely peaceful until the institution decided to deal deadly blows on innocent peaceful protesters.
What is your take on the #EndSARS Protesters’ demands and government’s response so far? What is JDPC’s recommendation to government in meeting these demands?
I believe that the demands of the #EndSARS Protesters’ are credible and fall within the rights of every Nigerian citizen as encapsulated both in the Nigerian Constitution and Regional and International instruments. The protesters are essentially demanding for an end to police brutality and a holistic reform of the Nigerian Police Force. The outcry is that we should be allowed to live and live responsibly and abundantly. Unfortunately, but true to character, the government’s response has been irresponsible to say the least. It appears that it does not understand the enormity of the current agitation and the dissatisfaction of its citizens on its governance. The disbandment of the SARS unit is only the beginning of the many critical steps that should be taken by the government to restore the confidence of Nigerian citizens. The JDPC recommends that the government should be sincere in addressing the grievances of the citizens and ensure that it integrally implements measures for checking the actions of the Police and overhauling the existing current system that thrives on the oppression of citizens going about their lawful activities. The government too must overhaul the police force, taking into cognizance their welfare, so that they are better positioned to carry out their constitutional task.
Last weekend, the Nigerian Army announced that it will commence a nationwide Exercise Crocodile Smile IV from October 20 to December 31. The exercise is designed to identify, track and counter negative propaganda on social media. The #EndSARS protest started online growing into a strong offline movement. Some people think that the Nigerian Army’s announcement seems to be a response to counter the narratives set online by the protesters. What do you think?
The Army Spokesman, Musa Sagir released a statement on Sunday, 18th October 2020 where he revealed that the “Operation Crocodile Smile” has nothing to do with #EndSARS protest. He stressed that this year’s exercise has no relationship with any lawful protest under any guise whatsoever and enjoined all law abiding Nigerians to go about their lawful activities unhindered as the Exercise has nothing to do with ENDSARS protest. He described the exercise as a yearly event set out to train NA officers and soldiers in its efforts to ensuring safety and security of Nigeria and her citizens. I think that it will be prudent to give the Nigerian Army the benefit of doubt and believe their statement because anything other than that will be tantamount to a flagrant violation of the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights of Nigerian citizens. However, the incident that played out on the 20th October, 2020 completely negates what the Nigerian Army chief said. How the Army comes into a peaceful protest and opens fire on innocent peaceful protesters still beats my imagination. What lawlessness? What callousness? Who ordered the strike? Why would the Nigerian Army disgracefully kill innocent citizens asking for a better country and protesting against police brutality and impunity? The Nigerian Army, the Lagos State Governor, MrBabajideSanwo-Olu and the President of the Federal Republic, Mohammadu Buhari all have serious questions to answer.
JDPC is an organ of the Catholic Church that implements human development programmes aimed at improving the lives of economical y disadvantaged, the structurally deprived, the unjustly punished and those under threat of violence. How well has the JDPC in the Lagos Archdiocese fared in accomplishing these functions?
The JDPC has organized economic empowerment programmes in order to improve the lives of the economically disadvantaged in our society but more than creating avenues for positively impacting lives of citizens, the JDPC continues to offer support to the structurally deprived, unjustly punished and works with State/National Agencies and NGOs to better advance their rights and welfare. At the moment amongst other projects, the JDPC Lagos is carrying out a project on Paedatric HIV/AIDS in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) across Seven Local Governments in Lagos State. Since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999, violent conflicts around identities including religion, ethnicity, indigene/settler differentiation and resource control remain a challenge to peace. So far, government responses lack a normative framework to motivate consistent intervention and foster peace. Please tell us about JDPC’s interventions in the management of this violent conflicts in various parts of the country particularly the middle belt region where herdsmen have been killing indigenes of some communities and lately, the Southern Kaduna killings. JDPC Lagos tries to address issues of conflicts both within the state and outside generally via press statements and sensitization rallies. We have also had trainings across communities in the state to teach peace building and non-violent means of resolving conflicts. However, with specific reference to issues of conflict arising in the middle belt, the structure of the Church in Nigeria makes it easier for the JDPC in those regions to address such issues that arise around their environment.
Given the numerous challenges and conflicts in the country, would you say that Nigerian leaders have failed?
Yes, without a shadow of doubt, Nigerian leaders have failed abysmally. All campaign promises made during elections are abandoned immediately they are sworn into office. The major political parties, especially PDP and APC are but the same poison in different bottles. They lack any iota of credibility and I say this without any apologies. Upon assuming office, Nigerian leaders resume their age-old tactic of blaming previous administrations for their failure to make significant progress and positively transform the Country.They mostly abandon any decent project that the previous administration had begun and begin another. Flagrant abuse of power and authority is rife and the queer and senseless accumulation of our common patrimony is their forte. How then can such leadership be termed as anything but a failed one? In fact to say they have failed is to put it mildly.
What has been the efforts of JDPC in addressing development issues in the country?
The JDPC continues to expand its thematic areas of intervention to better highlight and intervene in development issues. Down the years the JDPC Lagos has deployed the largest number of registered election observers to observe elections since the turn of democracy in Lagos State. We carry out pre-election sensitizations to enlighten the masses on what they need to know before every election. We organized public lectures, town hall meetings and seminars to continue to deepen our democracy and to further engage our elected officials around the state. JDPC Lagos partners with several state and non-state actors to address development issues in the areas of migration, human trafficking, budget tracking, prison reforms, human rights, mental health, social ills to mention but a few.
Nigeria’s justice system is not working. What do you think? How can JDPC help to resolve this issue?
It is true that Nigeria’s justice system is not working. This can be partly attributed to our compromised judiciary that appears to capitulate to the Executive and interpret the law in a manner that thwarts the course of justice. But more than this, there is a problem with our value system which requires urgent attention. The JDPC at best will remain a watchdog and constantly call to question the various actions and inactions of the judiciary, while calling on the Judiciary not only to be independent, but to be seen to be independent.
What solutions would JDPC proffer to the issues of human right abuses generally?
There should be a paradigm shift in the perception and treatment of citizens among law enforcement officials. They should be made to realize that they are to protect the citizens and should be made accountable for their actions. Our laws must be effective. Often times it comes across as though that the problem does not really lie in the laws but in their implementation. These issues of human right abuses abound in our society and we realize that when reported, the country’s leadership goes into denial mode as we can see with regards to the senseless massacre of innocent Nigerian youths across the country on 20th October, 2020. All those involved in that dastardly act must be brought to book. People should not be allowed to get away with wanton abuse of human rights regardless of how highly placed they are in society. Furthermore, our security personnel across board must be well trained to understand that their duty is to protect and not to kill. Nemo datquod non habet translates as You cannot give what you do not possess. Respect for human life should be taught at all levels of society. Our society seems to have lost every ounce of respect for human life. Premium must be placed on every life, from conception to natural death. Also, the National Human Rights Commission must be properly constituted. We are all too familiar with the fact that the governing council has not been constituted since 2015, having only an Executive Secretary at the helm of affairs. It is crystal clear that the leadership of this country does not consider Human right issues as important. There should be functional Human Rights Desk in every Police Station and it should be taken seriously. The National Human Rights Commission situated in every state must make itself visible, available and accessible so that the masses can easily have access to them, report abuses and still feel safe and confident that these issues will be thoroughly and adequately addressed.