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Idongesit Ashameri
The Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on Nigeria’s worsening security situation and immediately initiate the establishment of State Police and National Forest Guards as part of urgent measures to tackle rising insecurity across the country.
The rights group, which expressed concern over persistent school abductions and attacks on communities, said the country’s security architecture has become overstretched and requires urgent decentralisation to effectively respond to emerging threats.
Speaking at CHRAN’s annual June 12 Democracy Day Public Lecture in Uyo on Friday, the organisation’s Director, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, warned that continued insecurity poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability and national development.
“The Center urges the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to declare a state of emergency in the security situation facing the federation as a matter of urgent public importance,” Isong said.
He added: “The CHRAN calls for the overhauling and decentralization of the security architecture of the federation to give more powers to the sub-national governments.”
The organisation noted that despite years of efforts to curb insecurity, incidents of school kidnappings and attacks on educational institutions remain a recurring national tragedy, citing the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls and more recent incidents in parts of the country.
CHRAN therefore demanded the immediate release of all abducted schoolchildren and teachers still in captivity, stressing that the safety of citizens remains the primary responsibility of government at all levels.
Beyond security concerns, the organisation used the Democracy Day event to raise alarm over the growing culture of vote-buying and vote-selling in Nigeria, describing the practice as a direct threat to democratic governance and accountability.
Addressing participants at the lecture themed, “The Dangers of Vote Selling in a Democracy,” Isong said Nigeria’s democracy must not be reduced to a transactional process where voters exchange their constitutional rights for temporary financial gains.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey, he maintained that while democracy remains preferable to any other form of government, the country’s 27-year-old constitutional framework requires fundamental reforms to adequately address contemporary challenges.
“There is no doubt that the extant constitution requires a fundamental review, if not a complete overhaul,” he stated.
The CHRAN Director recalled the sacrifices made by pro-democracy activists during the struggle that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, noting that the annual lecture serves as a platform for assessing the progress and shortcomings of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
While commending President Tinubu, the National Assembly and democratic institutions for sustaining civil rule, he urged political actors to conduct themselves responsibly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Elections should not be seen as a warfront or battle to kill and destroy one another. It is simply an opportunity for the people to elect their servants who will deliver on good governance to them,” he said.
Turning attention to Akwa Ibom State, CHRAN praised Governor Umo Eno for what it described as significant investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education and social welfare, citing projects including the Arise Recreational Park, Ibom Modern Farm, ongoing road constructions, the Ibom International Multi-Specialist Hospital and the completion of the new terminal building at Victor Attah International Airport.
The organisation, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the 31 local government councils in the state, alleging that many councils have failed to complement the developmental efforts of the state government through visible, people-oriented projects.
“The CHRAN is perturbed that what the state government is doing in the areas of rural development, infrastructure, healthcare, education and human capacity development is not being complemented by the 31 local government councils in the state,” Isong declared.
Consequently, the group called on Governor Umo Eno to institute an independent assessment of projects executed by local government councils, urged the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to intensify oversight functions, and advocated stricter implementation of the state’s Anti-Open Grazing Law.
The organisation also challenged political leaders, civil society groups and citizens to protect democratic values, insisting that accountability, transparency and responsible leadership remain essential for the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.