Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, took to his X handle on Tuesday to mark Human Rights Day, adding his voice to the global call for the protection of fundamental human rights.

His message, following his participation in International Anti-Corruption Day on Monday, strongly emphasized the importance of respecting the inalienable rights of every individual, regardless of their tribe, social status, or religion.

Obi highlighted that human rights are the foundation of peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.

He pointed out that, as citizens, it is crucial to reflect on how far Nigeria has come in ensuring the rights of its people are respected.

Unfortunately, according to Obi, the current state of human rights in the country is disheartening.

“Human rights are the foundation for peaceful, just, and inclusive societies,” Obi said.

“On a day like this, we ought to judge for ourselves how we have progressed or retrogressed in respecting the human rights of our citizens.”

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recently reported that it receives over two million complaints annually related to human rights abuses in Nigeria.

But Obi acknowledged that these are just the ones brought to light—many others go unreported due to fear or lack of the ability to challenge these violations.

“Millions of others have neither the willpower to stand up against the abuse of their rights nor the voice to speak out and seek help,” he remarked.

Obi’s comments come amid disturbing statistics that paint a bleak picture of the country’s human rights record. In 2022, Nigeria was ranked 21st among countries with the worst human rights and rule of law violations globally.

More recently, in 2023, Nigeria was also listed as the 15th weakest state out of 177 countries on the Fragile State Index, reflecting ongoing challenges in governance, rule of law, and human rights protections.