Human rights activist Okoi Obono-Obla, has commended the Cross River State Government for deploying soldiers to Obubra Local Government Area to quell the unrest in the community.
Obono-Obla spoke in a telephone chat with LEADERSHIP on Saturday, saying the move was necessary to restore peace and security in the area.
“The survival of the state and the protection of its citizens override individual liberties where such liberties threaten collective peace and security,” Obono-Obla said.
He attributed the violence in Obubra to unscrupulous individuals in collaboration with certain foreign interests and indigenes, who are using the unrest as a cover for illegal mining activities.
Obono-Obla emphasized that there are no absolute freedoms or human rights, particularly where the rights of other citizens are violated in the course of exercising fundamental rights.
He cited the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s ruling in Asari Dokubo v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, which held that fundamental human rights must take the back seat when it comes to issues of national security.
“We are weary of incessant communal conflicts and the resultant bloodletting,” urging stakeholders to prioritize peace, security, and development over selfish interests.
“Enough is enough. Let us give peace a chance,” Obono-Obla appealed, stressing that peace is not negotiable and is the foundation upon which justice, progress, and prosperity rest,” Obla said.
