AN ADDRESS OF WELCOME PRESENTED BY SABASTINE ANYIA ESQ. 1ST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND CHAIRMAN HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTE ON THE OCCASION OF THE SOUTHEAST STAKEHOLDERS SUMMIT ON PEACE & SECURITY AND PUBLIC HEARING ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION HOLDING AT HOTEL SUNSHINE, PRESIDENTIAL ROAD, ENUGU, ENUGU STATE TODAY, 21ST DAY OF FEBRUARY 2025
1. His excellency Mr. Peter Mbah, The Governor of Enugu state
2. His excellency Prof. Charles Chukwumma Soludo, the Governor of Anambra state
3. His excellency Sen. Hope Uzordimma, The Governor of Imo State
4. His excellency Dr. Alex Chioma Oti, The Governor of Abia State
5. His excellency Mr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, The Governor of Ebonyi State
6. The Chairman of this summit, Prof Sam Amadi
7. The Guest Speaker Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu
8. The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN
9. The president Ohaneze Indigbo Senator J. Mbata
10. Distinguished senator Enyinnaya Abaribe
11. The deputy speaker of the house of representatives, RT Hon. Ben Kalu
12. The Executive secretary of National Human Rights commission, Prof. Tony Ojukwu
13. The Chairman Police Service Commission, DIG, Barr. Hashimu Salihu Argungu
14. The chief of civil – military affairs, Maj. General G.U. Chibuisi
15. The General officer commanding 82 division, Enugu
16. The assistant inspector general of police – Zone 9, Umuahia, Suleiman Yusuf
17. The assistant inspector general of police – zone 13, Ukpo, Godwin Aghaulor
18. The Honorable attorney general and commissioner of justice, Enugu state, Anambra state, Imo state and Ebonyi State
19. The commissioner of police, Enugu state, Anambra state, Imo state and Ebonyi State
20. Our panelists – Rev. Fr. (monsignor) Prof. Obioha Ike,
Prof. Joy Ezeilo
CP Emmanuel Ojukwu rtd.
Mrs. Ngozi Nwosu
21. Mr. Austin Onuoha, Executive Director, Peace in Southeast project
22. Distinguished Colleagues
23. Members of the press
24. Ladies and Gentlemen
It is my privilege to welcome this cream of gentlemen and ladies to this very important summit today the 21st day of February 2025. I am delighted to state that this is the first time Government, lawyers, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the general public are gathered in a hall to discuss peace and security in our region. According to our revered Prof. Chinua Achebe (may his soul rest in peace) in his book Things Fall Apart (1958) at p.118, he said “… _When_ _we_ _come_ _together_ _in_ _the_ _moonlight_ _village_ _ground_ _it_ _is_ _not_ _because_ _of_ _the_ _moon_ . _Every_ _man_ _can_ _see_ _it_ _in_ _his_ _own_ _compound_ . _We_ _come_ _together_ _because_ _it_ _is_ _good_ _for_ _kinsmen_ _to_ _do_ _so_ .” Our meeting today is more serious and more demanding than the one referred to by our revered Chinua Achebe. There is no peace and there is no security in our land.
The above has compelled the NBA – Human right institute to co-organize this summit in collaboration with the south-east CSOs with the view to facilitate dialogue, promote peace and accountability and develop collaborative strategies to address the ongoing insecurity and human rights issues in our region. We are compelled to ask questions and write our stories by ourselves. In October, 29th 2012, Prof. Chinua Achebe in his Facebook post said “That until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunter will always glorify the hunter”
We must write our story by ourselves and that is why this summit is a necessity. We are here this morning to find out where we got it wrong and do everything within our powers to correct it. The stories of non-indigenes about the security situation in the region may not be entirely correct. Our people say that if you find water rising up to your ankle that is the time to do something about it, not when it is around your neck. It’s in the light of the above that Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the book “ Greatest Speeches Of Historic Black Leaders ” at p.65 said “ _Violence_ _never_ _settles_ _anything_ _right_ : _Apart_ _from_ _injuring_ _your_ _own_ _soul_ , _it_ _injures_ _the_ _best_ _cause_ . _It_ _lingers_ _on_ _long_ _after_ _the_ _object_ _of_ _hate_ _has_ _disappeared_ _from_ _the_ _scene_ _to_ _plague_ _the_ _lives_ _of_ _those_ _who_ _have_ _employed_ _it_ _against_ _their_ _foes_ ”
Ladies and gentlemen, permit me to appreciate our governors who have done everything legitimate to return peace and security to the region. Their fight against insecurity in our region cannot be over-emphasized. We cannot thank them enough, it is because of their efforts that we can still travel from one town to another and from one state to another. We thank our governors and urge them not to relent in their commitment to change the fortune of the region for good. We note and commend your remarkable efforts in tackling insecurity and promoting the welfare of the people of your state.
Your excellencies, much is still expected from you. This is because the society expects so much from the system. You cannot live a normal existence if you haven’t taken care of a problem that affects your life and affects the lives of others, value that you hold which in fact define your very existence. It is in the light of the above that Awolowo in the book “Greatest Speeches Of Historic Black Leaders” at p.67 said “ Those of us in a position of leadership must be _prepared to grasp the nettle. If we unite in doing so, and if, in addition we set a worthy example and moral on pace in probity, unselfishness and self sacrifice, the people will follow, all too readily in our footsteps .”
I’m glad to inform us that the NBA leadership under Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN our own son has introduced wonderful innovations that has brought joy and excitement to many families across the country. In December we did 16 days of human rights activism that reconciled about 250 families across the country, freed 109 suspects in various police stations across the country and with the help of various states chief judges, released 89 in mates across the country. Under the leadership of Mazi Afam Osigwe, the NBA has experienced remarkable progress, fostering unity and excellence
within the legal profession. We have not had it so good like this in the NBA. Today we are gathered to discuss amongst ourselves, the peace and security in our region in order to put an end to the unnecessary bloodshed and loss of lives. We are proud of his leadership and I’m equally proud to be in his team.
The summit brings together key stakeholders from government/security agencies, civil society, religious bodies and media. We are to participate in this dialogue aimed at jointly identifying workable solutions to the challenges of insecurity, human right violation and closing civic space in the south east. Theme of this summit is “Fostering Lasting Peace and Security: Collaborative Approaches To Address Insecurity And Human Rights Violations In The South East”. The event is structured into 2 parts: an opening ceremony and technical sessions
The opening ceremony will feature welcome remarks, goodwill messages, a keynote address by our own Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a fearless professor endowed with immeasurable wisdom. For those of us who have not seen him but have heard about him, today is your opportunity to see him and hear directly from him. We in the NBA are very proud of him. We also have a panel discussion made up of Rev. Fr (Monsignor),Prof. Obiorah Ike, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, C.P Emmanuel Ojukwu rtd and Mrs. Ngozi Nwosu
The chairman of the summit is our own Prof. Sam Amadi, a human right activist. He is one of the few Nigerian who have swung in the murky Nigerian political waters coming out unstained.
We shall be closing with a speech by his Excellency, the Governor of Enugu state who shall declare the summit open.
The technical sessions will include presentations on the state of security and civic space in the southeast including perspectives from security agencies, testimonies by representatives of most affected communities and individual victims to share their stories, raising awareness of the impact of insecurity on their lives. A panel of experts as shown above will hear the presentations and testimonies, seek clarification from the speakers and testifiers and recommend measures for justice, improving the effectiveness and professionalism of security agencies and preventing human rights violations.
OUR ACTION PLAN:
A report with a set of actionable recommendations and a plan for implementation will be developed by the rapporteurs to address the issues discussed.
FOLLOW UP MECHANISMS: A south east stakeholder platform would be inaugurated as one of the follow up mechanisms to monitor progress on commitments made during the forum.
We hope that your Excellencies active involvement as the key stakeholders and all of us gathered here will foster a collaborative approach to enhancing peace and security while safeguarding human rights in the south east.
Prof. Chinua Achebe in his book – A Man Of The People (1966) at p.118 said “ _when_ _a_ _mad_ _man_ walks _naked_ , _it_ _is_ _his_ _kinsmen_ _who_ feel _ashamed_ , _not_ _himself_ ”
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. After rain comes sunshine. After darkness comes a glorious dawn. Chief. Obafemi Awolowo in the book “Greatest Speeches Of Historic Black Leaders” at p.67 said “There is no sorrow without its alloy of Joy; There is no joy without admixture of sorrow. Behind the ugly trouble mask of misfortune lies the beautiful soothing countenance of prosperity. So, tear the mask.”
As I end this address let me borrow the words of Dr. Nnmadi Azikiwe when he said “It is, therefore, with a brave heart, with confident hope, and with faith in my unalterable destiny, that I go from this twilight into the darkness, unshaken in my trust in the providence of God that a glorious dawn will come on the morrow”.
It is my belief that at the end of this summit, we shall experience a glorious dawn and our tomorrow shall be a day of new hope.
Thanks.
Sabastine Anyia Esq
NBA 1st Vice President and Chairman Human Rights Institute.
