The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has urged activists to defend citizens impartially, saying emotionalism, political interests and selective advocacy undermine justice.

The CDHR President, Debo Adeniran, gave the warning in his welcome address at a public lecture in Lagos with the theme “Understanding Human Rights Beyond Emotions and Personal Interests.”

Mr Adeniran expressed concern that some Nigerians interpreted human rights based on personal preferences rather than established principles, saying, “People tend to portray human rights according to what they like rather than what is right.”

He urged activists to ground their advocacy in facts, legal principles and international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Mr Adeniran also stressed the importance of the Nigerian Constitution in protecting fundamental rights, urging citizens to understand their rights and responsibilities to promote accountability and respect for the rule of law.

According to him, increased public awareness and continuous learning will strengthen advocacy, improve governance and encourage peaceful resolution of disputes.

He added that defending an individual’s rights did not necessarily mean endorsing their actions or demands, urging activists to pursue justice with integrity, objectivity and intellectual honesty.

The keynote speaker, Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said human rights organisations must defend citizens equally, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliations.

Mr Ogundipe, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, warned that identity politics and selective advocacy weakened justice and undermined the universal principles of human rights.

He stressed that Nigeria’s constitution guaranteed fundamental rights, including the rights to life, dignity, fair hearing, freedom of expression, religion and peaceful assembly.

“Human rights are generally understood as fundamental rights and freedoms that belong to every individual by virtue of being human,” he said.

Mr Ogundipe called for evidence-based advocacy, accountability and stronger institutions, noting that public outrage alone could not secure justice without proper documentation, sound legal arguments and effective prosecution of rights violators.

He urged CDHR to promote human rights education, constitutionalism and partnerships with relevant organisations to strengthen democratic governance, protect human dignity and uphold the rule of law.

Similarly, the lead presenter, Tunde Babawale, identified corruption, weak institutions, dysfunctional federalism and declining ethical values as major obstacles to effective human rights protection in Nigeria.

Mr Babawale, a former Director General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, described corruption as a major human rights violator, arguing that stolen public funds deprived citizens of essential services, including education and healthcare.

“Human rights protection must move beyond selective advocacy.

“Universal human rights would become credible only when they protected everyone without discrimination,” he said.

Mr Babawale listed peace and security, human rights education, and development as pillars that could help improve human rights protection.

Mr Babawale urged CDHR to professionalise activism and defend everyone’s rights, including those of political opponents, stressing that human rights protection must depend on universal principles rather than personal interests or public sentiment.

(NAN)