EFFECTS OF EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS UNDER EMERGING STATES OF EMERGENCY

EFFECTS OF EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS UNDER EMERGING STATES OF EMERGENCY

By Bala Ibrahim

Yesterday was marked as the International Human Rights day 2025, which came with the theme, “Our Everyday Essentials.” The ambition of the theme, our everyday essentials is to remind us that, rights, Human rights, are not just legal protections; they are the foundation for a life filled with respect, opportunity and freedom. Also, in recognition of the fact that, peace is a prerequisite for sustainable economic and social development, UN Member States have declared 2025, as the International Year of Peace and Trust. For those of us that live in Africa, where poverty has long been accepted as a permanent partner, nothing can be more exciting than these realisations. The people have long lost trust, because of the absence of peace in some parts of the region.

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By definition, everyday essentials simply means, the basic items one needs for his or her daily living. In other words, those things needed for the comfort of survival. The quality of these things can vary, depending on status, but basically, they cover things like food, water, clothing, and household materials. All the aforementioned items can only answer their names meaningfully, and be of good use to mankind, if there is security. So security is the pillar, upon which the everyday essentials can work. However, to those of us living in West Africa, security is evasive, as insecurity becomes an uninvited partner. As a result, a new term, called the state of emergency, is now added to our lexicon. And it is making access to the everyday essentials inaccessible.

It had been declared in Nigeria by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, since November, where he said, “Today, in view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces”. Also, pursuant to the return of coups and attempted coups in West Africa, alongside the escalating insecurity, the region is further introduced to a state of emergency on security, as announced recently by the ECOWAS Commission President, Oumar Touray, at a ministerial level meeting in Abuja. “Events of the last few weeks have shown the imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community.”

If indeed we are to go by the ambition of this year’s theme of the World Human Rights day, then we must look at how these declarations of the state of emergency all over our region are inadvertently becoming incorporated, albeit against our wish. And how they are affecting the people’s psyche. The question to ask is, should we only be paying attention to the effects of Human rights violations, without a corresponding scrutiny on Human wrongs activities? I know there are many Human Rights organisations in Nigeria, one of which is even called, Enough is enough. They are focused on promoting good governance, transparency, and public accountability in Nigeria, by empowering active citizenship and engagement on issues from corruption to economic hardship. The emphasis placed by most of the organisations is how to mount pressure on Governments to do what is right. Less pressure is placed, I think, to bring Governments, and individuals, to account, in areas where they commit wrongs. And there are examples abound.

As Human beings, sometimes, in the pursuit of what we call our rights, we commit some wrongs, that inflict harm on our fellow Human beings. And the pain of such harm lingers on their lives for long. Sometimes, actions like racism, gender inequality, religious bias, and economic injustice, as practiced through certain policies, can inflict harm on individuals or even groups. According to the leader of the Shiite movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, alot of their members are in detention illegally in various detention centres and prisons, because of their religious belief. Many have been killed and the corpses are not released to their families. He called it religious bias. That is Human wrong. Even lawyers, who should be at the forefront of human rights protection, have not been spared. Many have been harassed or detained simply for exercising their fundamental rights or defending others, as mentioned in a statement issued on Wednesday by Usman Umar Fari, Chairman of NBA Kano Branch. This is an indirect accusation of the Government for committing what I would call, Human wrong.

With the emergence of the state of emergency on security in West Africa, a lot of countries, Nigeria inclusive, would have their citizens operating under conditions that make access to the everyday essentials extremely difficult. Although additional measures are being put in place to ease out the activities of non state actors, who are the forces harassing those living in the rural areas, the Governments themselves, need to boost public confidence, by naming and shaming perpetrators.

It is heartening to hear that the Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a nationwide citizenship movement, designed to transform patriotism from mere emotion into everyday action, responsibility, and nation-building, under an initiative called, “My Nigeria, My Responsibility.” The aim is to instil the concept of nationhood in the minds of all, while at the same time, highlighting what the Government is expected to do in the event that a patriot finds himself or herself in distress.

Universally, Human rights are seen as moral entitlements that are pursued consistently, but in view of the rising cases of violations by Governments, corporate bodies and individuals, the need has arisen, for the scrutiny of Human wrongs, which are severe violations of these rights. Yes, they should be looked into with similar or greater consistency. Issues like arbitrary jailing and the need for proper compensation to the victims of crime should be given additional attention, in order to close the gap between ideals and reality. That is the way to go for the provision of Our Everyday Essentials.

EFFECTS OF EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS UNDER EMERGING STATES OF EMERGENCY