RIGHTS GROUP URGES NIGERIANS TO RESIST IMPUNITY IN GOVERNANCE
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
A civil rights organisation, the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), has called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and resist what it describes as the growing normalisation of impunity in governance.
Reacting to the recent nomination and confirmation of some politically exposed persons as ambassadors, CHRICED warned that Nigeria’s democracy risks collapse if accountability is weakened and public office is used as a shield against scrutiny. The group stressed that leadership should be built on integrity, not on records that raise serious public concerns.
The Executive Director of CHRICED, Dr Ibrahim Zikirullahi, expressed concern that recycling individuals with questionable public service records could damage Nigeria’s international image and further erode public trust in democratic institutions. He noted that at a time when the country needs credible and respected diplomats to rebuild confidence globally, such appointments send the wrong signal.
CHRICED also faulted the National Assembly for swiftly confirming the nominees, arguing that the legislature failed in its duty to provide effective oversight and protect democratic standards.
The group urged the media, civil society and the international community to continue demanding transparency and accountability in public appointments, insisting that impunity must not be allowed to thrive.