CDHR Holds Annual General Conference, Gets New BOT Members, Elects Taiga, 7 Others As New Executive

By Daniel Dafe

Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has held her 2021 Annual General Conference.

The programme took place at Lambertain Hotels, Asaba, on Saturday.

Delivering a lecture on the theme: ‘Combating Insecurity Challenges Through Community Policy and Rule of Law’, the Dean of Students, Western Delta University, Oghara, Sir (Dr.) Michael Aban, said corruption was not just stealing, adding that any act that is selfish is also corruption.

While blaming the insecurity situation in the country on bad leadership, he frowned at the low monthly pay for public servants, stressing that this could also bring about corruption.

Furthermore, he urged the political class to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich, saying that without doing this insecurity will persist.

Speaking further, he called on the government to increase the monthly pay for police officers, just as he said that police officers ought to be one of the highest paid public officers in the country.

Continuing, he tasked CDHR to help spread the concept that no one is above the law, while wondering why the death penalty has not become the punishment for convicted corrupt Nigerians.

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Aban also said that religious leaders in the country have not lived up to expectation.

Earlier, the Acting President, Comr (Dr.) Kehinde Taiga (before his emergence), in his welcome address, recalled that CDHR “was formed thirty-two (32) years ago in April, 1989 in response to the high level of human rights abuses and infringement prevailing in our dear country under the watchful eyes of the military regime, with the general objectives of promoting, defending and sustenance of fundamental human rights among other objectives.”

Taiga commended the Senate for their courageous u-turn on the electronic transmission of election results in Nigeria.

He therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency assent to the amendments by the National Assembly especially that of the electronic transmission of election results, so that INEC will use it for the coming November 6 Anambra State elections as a litmus test before its full use in future elections.

Meanwhile the CP who was represented by the DPO, A Division, Asaba, CSP Tokpe, advised against payment of bail money.

“Opt to be put into the cell instead of paying money for bail,” he added.

Also, he warned that activism is not radicalism and said that there was the need for greater synergy between the police and human rights groups.

Highpoint of the ceremony was the dissolution of the national executive of CDHR and the election of new leaders for the body.

The new executive are- Comr (Dr) Kehinde Prince Taiga, National President; Comr Enohuwa Obanwonyi, National Vice President; Comr James Chibuzo Chikwendu, National General Secretary; Comr Godspower Ugah, Asst. Secretary; Comr Roy Michael Olokungboye, National Treasurer; Barr (Mrs) Violet Ekwumankama, Legal Adviser; Comr Gerald Kachy, Publicity Secretary and Comr. Ayuba Musa, Internal Auditor.

Also, Taiga disclosed that based on the constitution, the tenure of the association’s BOT led by Femi Falana had expired, just as the rights group nominated seven to serve as members of the BOT.

The new BOT members are Sunny Enenuvwedia, Barr. Olasupo Ojo, Barr Lawal, Barr. Emeka Anosike and Barr. Maxwell Opara.

Others are Prof. Lai Olurode and Comr Kehinde Taiga.

In order to encourage more dedication to the pursuit of the purpose for CDHR, awards were presented to deserving leaders and members and a few non-members that have supported the cause of the body.