Amnesty International Nigeria (AIN) has called on security agencies to respect the rights of citizens and be professional in the discharge of their duties during the forthcoming elections.
Mr Auwal Rafsanjani, Chairman Board of Trustees AIN, made the appeal while commemorating the World Social Justice Day, and a farewell ceremony for the Country Director, AIN, Osai Ojigho in Abuja.
“I am calling on the security to ensure that they maintain professionalism, neutralism, courtesy, be unbiased, and ensure that they do not allow themselves to be bought by politicians,” he said.
According to him, the actions of security agents during the elections will be monitored by many organisations locally and globally.
Rafsanjani expressed concern about the activities of non-state actors threatening the conduct of the elections.
“The non state actors, particularly the IPOB who have declared that for three days they will totally lock down the South East, makes a lot of people to be afraid to go and vote.
“So clearly, there might be some absence of people coming to cast their votes.
“In other parts of the country, the way politicians are preaching violence is equally of great concern that peace loving Nigerians, especially Persons With Disabilities, may not be able to go and vote,” he observed.
Rafsanjani said there was need to nip these challenges in the bud to guarantee credible polls.
According to him, injustice remains the root cause of most problems in Nigeria.
“Injustice is a fundamental challenge that is affecting everything in the country.
“So, until we are able to deal with issues of social justice in this country, it will be difficult for Nigerians to realize their potential to compete favourably, participate in governance process,” he added.
The World Day of Social Justice is marked globally to highlight issues of poverty, exclusion, gender inequality, unemployment, human rights and social protection.
