2nd May, 2012
The secretary of Joint Action Committee, JAC, Comrade Abiodun Aremu made a frank statement at the weekend in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, when he confessed that the majority of those parading themselves as human rights activists are very corrupt and insincere on the crusade for better society.
Aremu stated this at the weekend during a media parley organized by a non governmental Organization, African Foundation for Peace and Love Initiative.
He regretted that the Nigerian state was in terrible condition because those who claim that they are fighting for the interest of the common man are actually fighting for their own selfish interest.
Aremu who have been in the struggle for a better society was among the speakers in this years workshop organised by the foundation.
He noted that if the majority of those parading themselves as activists were sincere, those in governance will not take the citizens for granted.
“Most of them are in the struggle for what they will get and not for the interest of the masses who are impoverished due to bad leadership,” he stated.
He explained that civil society comprises all segments of the society including the police, military, labour among others.
He noted that civil society and labour who have been championing the struggle are very weak in Nigeria, saying that it was because of their weakness that government has not been accountable to the people.
He regretted that those in authority used the military and police to truncate the wishes of the people during the subsidy strike whereas the majority of them are not better off for it.
He noted that it was the cabal that cuts across the military, police and a tiny group of civilians that are unleashing untold hardship on Nigerians.
The event, which was the fourth in the series, was organised to parley with the media to serve as a means of education and enlightenment for media practitioners to face the challenges of building a better society.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe