Human rights activists slam president’s record

As President Umaru Yar’Adua reaches the mid-point of his first term in office, Human Rights Watch says he is undermining anti-corruption efforts, failing to address the root causes of violence in the Niger Delta, or rein in abusive security forces, while maintaining discriminatory state policies against “non-indigene” inhabitants of states.



Elections in Nigeria are still determined by fraud and violence, and embezzlement of public funds bars citizens from accessing basic services such as clean water or education, according to HRW. The group says after promising “zero tolerance” of corruption, President Yar’Adua fired the “dynamic” head of the anti-corruption commission.



“President Yar’Adua has had two years to show that he meant business when he promised to strengthen the rule of law,” Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a communiqué. “But instead it is business as usual.”



In a 10-point human rights agenda for Nigeria, HRW calls for improving oversight of government expenditure, holding government officials accountable for embezzling funds or instigating violence, barring discriminatory “non-indigene” policies and prosecuting security force members found to be involved in extrajudicial killings.



aj/np