It does appear from the evolving developments that the African Union (AU) is poised to restore it’s bartered image as a continental body that is saddled with the responsibility of promoting, defending and protecting human rights in the continent. It should be noted that for decades now, the African Union has been grossly enmeshed in deep slumber, crass negligence of her avowed responsibilities to the African people.
The alarming cases of human right abuses being meted on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), by the Nigerian government as lodged in African Commission by the legal counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra, Attorney Alloy Ejimakor, is definitely, an acidic test on the continental body (African Union), in her role of enforcing her charter on Human and People’s Rights on member nations of which Nigeria is one. The African Commission has invariably attracted the attention of the global community comprising of the United States of America, United kingdom, United Nations, European Union et cetera, as it adjudicates on the petition lodged before it by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide, against the Nigerian government.
It is pertinent that the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights understand that in whichever way the pendulum swings, it will obviously form a precedence of future reference when issues bordering on human right abuses in the African continent come up. What this simply portends therefore, is that the action or inaction of the Commission will either make or Mar the protection of human rights within the continent. The African Union must bluntly dispense justice through this legal contest between the IPOB and the Nigerian government by refusing to be lured into the politics of bilateral interests as the fantastically corrupt Nigerian government will yet try to have it’s way.
Undoubtedly, the unassuming, shameless government of Nigeria will definitely want employ all shades of inducements before the organization anytime the issue of Biafra agitation is placed on the table. The Judges of the African Commission must be wary against the seducing trappings of the agents of the Nigerian government for immoral adjournment of cases as often pronounced in the ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West Africa) Court. Bribing Judges has been a callous hobby the Nigerian government is associated with and so it is necessary that the Commission gets all the needed support it requires from the parent body which is the African Union. This is very pivotal if it must dispense justice in this matter in the protection of the African charter on Human and People’s Rights within the continent. It must have to be pointedly stated here that the African Union must resist every attempt of the Nigerian government on her, to exert undue influence on the Commission on the outcome of proceedings just in the same manner the ECOWAS sub-regional body was intimidated to dictate to the ECOWAS Court when to call up the case before it between Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Nigerian government.
Let the African Union understand that the IPOB petition lodged with the African Commission is a case that fundamentally, has an attachment of the restoration of the prestige of the African Union particularly. The continental body over the years has existed in name and only served as a rubber stamp organization to the despotic decisions of the vampiric leaders of Africa and elsewhere. It is time for the Union to ride on the wings of this IPOB petition and wholesomely restore the glory of Africa which has been usurped for years, by the Europeans.
The chains of the seemingly endemic slumber, in credibly discharging her avowed responsibilities as a continental body, must have to be broken. Oh yes, the IPOB vs Nigerian government’s case, is a litmus test of redemption and it must not be trifled with.
This is the opportunity!
