The Presidency has berated the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) over its plan to sue the Nigerian Government.
In a statement on Wednesday by the Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu said the allegations of human rights abuses and corruption levelled against the Federal Government are publicity stunts.
Shehu described the continuous threat to drag the Buhari government to court as divisive, irresponsible and ridiculous.
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He asked the organisation to publicly sue the federal government in a competent court of law in the country and stop threatening the Buhari government with court actions.
The presidential spokesman, however, asked SERAP to disclose its source of funding to Nigerians despite being an organization that champions transparency and accountability.
The statement reads: “We would like to address the repeated ridiculous claims from the so-called Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) that it is bringing legal action against the Government and/ or President of Nigeria.
“Very little is known about SERAP, or who funds them – despite their claims of being an organization that champions transparency and accountability.
“To date, SERAP has announced on repeated occasions – each time via a well-funded media campaign – that it is suing the government or President over a range of issues from alleged human rights abuses to alleged corruption. To date, SERAP has not taken their retinue of legal actions to a logical conclusion. They don’t follow through.
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“Yet these headline-grabbing publicity stunts, however baseless, succeed in painting an inaccurate picture of life and governance in Nigeria and – more seriously – in sowing division amongst the Nigerian people during a time of heightened global economic volatility and hardship.”
Shehu stated that the Nigerian government respects the rights of all citizens, rule of law and also respect the freedom of expression of all Nigerians.
He added: “Nigeria is comfortable that its record as Africa’s leading democracy and largest economy speaks for itself. Nigeria is amongst the top five countries in Africa for quality of life, and our ranking in the Human Development Index has steadily risen for a decade.
“This success is testament to the rights, rule of law and strong, independent institutions enjoyed by all Nigerian citizens and others who live there. Indeed, it is a fact that independent, non-governmental organizations can thrive there – especially those that seek accountability from the government.
“Put simply, here lies SERAP’s paradox: in a country without human rights, no rule of law, limited freedom of expression, and weak democratic institutions the cases and cacophony that SERAP causes – even the organization itself – simply would not be permitted.
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“It is, unfortunately, the case that our progressive, modern, and liberal legal system is open to manipulation by cynical actors who seek nothing but to sow division amongst Nigerians and secure publicity for themselves.
“With the global pandemic exacerbating poverty across the continent, those who have always sought to divide Nigerians along cultural, racial and political lines for political or financial gain are more dangerous than before.
“We call on SERAP to cease its divisive, irresponsible, and bare-faced publicity stunts and instead to follow through on its latest spurious legal claim in a Nigerian court of law. Let them challenge the government publicly, legally and transparently. And while they do so, let them reveal in full view of the nation who they are, and who is funding them.”
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