Ademola Adeyemo
27 February 2007
Lagos — A Human Rights Organisation, the Human Rights Watch has identified corruption, intercommunal violence, partisan security forces, andorigged polls as some of the pitfalls in the way of this year's transition elections.
The organisation, in a report titled " A human rights agenda for Nigeria's general elections and beyond", noted with dismay that despite President Olusegun Obasanjo's much advertised "war on corruption",the problem still remained unsolved.
According to the report, the nations anti corruption agency is suffering from credibility problem" Corruption remains endemic at all levels of government and in the security forces. Corruption has had a devastating on many Nigerians enjoymentof their basic human rights. It has also fuelled violence,as many corrupt politicians and other elites have used the proceeds of corruptionto mobilise violencein support of their political ambitions"
" Government anti-corruption efforts have lost muchof their credibility because the Federal Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) has involved itsels in the 2007 elections by selectively indicting some candidates and not others. "
It therefore urged candidates in this years elections to present specific measures to address Nigeria's corruption epidemic.
Also it called on the candidates to propose measures to address the causes of constant violent clashes which the group identified as discrimation, mobilization of violence,and impunity.
"Government must adopt measures to hold accountable those responsible for helping to ochestrate violence in the country"
On the conduct of the security forces, the organisation observed that Nigeria police force is partisan and selective in applying the law een as it acknowledged that police lacked necessary facilities and equippment nexessary for effective operations.
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