The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has said that it is committed to fight against continuous marginalization of original inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the scheme of things.
Executive Director, CHRICED, Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said this at a one-day round-table discussion on ‘Access to Justice and Human Rights Protection in Nigeria’ on Thursday.
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Zikirullahi said that the physical and virtual event was CHRICED’s initiative to address the decades-long injustices, marginalization and exclusion suffered by the original inhabitants in the FCT since Nigeria’s capital was relocated from Lagos to Abuja.
He said, “One of the most important aspects of this project is for the Original Inhabitants in the FCT to advance their struggles and interests in accordance with the rule of law, justice, and respect for their rights as citizens.
“We must commend the FCT Original Inhabitants for continuing to walk the nonviolent path in bringing attention to the issues that affect them.”
The CHRICED boss wondered that if the judiciary, which is often described as the common man’s last hope, issues judgments that are not implemented, where does that leave those in search of justice?
“In the case of the FCT’s Original Inhabitants, several judicial verdicts relating to their rights have been simply ignored or put on hold.
“Affected citizens are wondering why this is the case, and what is driving what appears to be a new pattern of selective obedience to court orders.
“For CHRICED, this is not a conversation for the sake of conversation; our interest is in understanding and coming to terms with what needs to be done to ensure justice, equity, and the rule of law prevail.
“Despite the challenges, CHRICED is optimistic that the constructive perspectives presented at this roundtable will put us on the path to finding a solution to these issues.
“It is also our hope that through this initiative, we will be able to address the FCT’s Original Inhabitants’ decades of marginalization, discrimination, and widespread neglect.”
He also commended the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for its assistance to the original inhabitants through the CHRICED.
