By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said that it will begin public hearing on cases relating to hate speeches and electoral violence from the south south geo-political zone in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state tomorrow.
Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu who disclosed this today at the flag-off of sensitisation meeting held in the Federal High Court, Uyo, said so far about 76 complaints on the issues have been recieved.
Ojukwu said that complaints which had already been investigated would be handled in the public hearing organised by the commission.
He called on the complainants and alleged violators to appear before the commission as scheduled.
“This public hearing is for the entire South South, we have complaints from most of the states in the zone. In this session, we have 76 complaints which had been investigated before and they are going to come up during this session”, he stated
According to him, the session would be an opportunity to give fair hearing to both the complainants and allegedly violators, adding that the decision to resort to public hearing approach is because of the large complaints received.
The executive secretary added that the purpose of the sensitization was to create awareness on the dangers of hate speech and attendant election violence that follows such situations.
He urged politicians to refrain from making statements that could cause violence and divide the country as we are approaching 2019 general election.
He emphasised that the whole idea of the sensitization was to deepen our democracy, advising that campaigns towards 2019 elections must be issue based.
He said, “The purpose of the present campaign by the NHRC is to discourage use of hate speeches and elections violence during campaigns and other elections activities
“For those who choose to use the tools of hate speeches and election violence, they will be investigated and prosecuted and made to account for their actions.”
In his remarks, the Speaker Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr. Onofiok Luke, said that every Nigerian should condemn the use of hate speech.
Luke urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies in the country to remain unbiased in performance of their duties.
The speaker commended the NHRC for the campaign and urged them to take the campaign to Churches, Mosque and Traditional Institutions.
The Akwa Ibom Commissioner of Police, CP Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, in his goodwill message said that menace of hate speech and electoral violence would be curbed through legislation.
Ogunjemilusi, who was represented by DCP Administration, Yekini Ajogun, warned political actors to operate within the ambit of the law as they go about their campaigns.
He urged the commission to remain unbiased to make the outcome of the exercise acceptable by all concerned.
