‘Babangida responsible for Nigeria’s woes’

Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Prof. Chidi Odinkalu has accused former Military President Ibrahim Babangida of being responsible for the numerous woes that have befallen the country.

Prof. Odinkalu spoke yesterday at the 20th anniversary lecture of a non-governmental organisation, Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Awareness (PRAWA) in Abuja.

He alleged: “Hold President Ibrahim Babangida because he is the source of our problems. He corrupted democracy and democratised corruption.”

The human rights crusader accused Babangida of democratising violence.

“Babangida violated our country and democratised violence. And today, we are living with the consequences,” he noted.

He explained that the former military president, during his regime, propounded the “centrenal theory” that centralised everything, adding that the sole purpose of it was “regime security” at the detriment of the country.

“He centralised prisons, police, criminal justice, prosecution and everything. The underpinning theory behind all of these was regime security.

“The problem we have today in our prisons system and our criminal justice system goes back to that doctrine of 1986.”

Odinkalu said: “I wish Babangida lives longer to be able to see the consequences of what he did to Nigeria.”

He lamented that Nigerians were being massacred daily.

“Communities are being wiped out,” he said.

The Executive Director of PRAWA, Dr. Uju Agomoh, recalled how her organisation in 1994, began the task of prisons rehabilitation campaign in Nigeria.

She relived the challenges and called the government to support PRAWA’s initiative to transform the prisons.

Dr. Agomoh said a lot has to be done to bring the country’s justice system in tune with modern realities, adding that a situation where inmates await trial for years was unacceptable.

She also condemned the welfare available to inmates, which, she said, were simply appalling, saying that but for the efforts of organisations, such as hers, the condition of inmates would be worse.

The Chairman of PRAWA board, Dr. Gabriel Toby, said: “We need to work for the collective ownership of the criminal justice system.”

The event brought together key stakeholders in the criminal justice system, both within and outside the country.