In a his speech to mark the 2019 International Human Rights Day,the Archbishop of Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) and the President of Lutheran World Federation (LWF),Panti Filibus Musa, PhD,called on Nigerians and world leaders to bear in mind that peace will only exist where there is Justice.
Panti said this at the Opening of the Right Based Approach workshop in Yola that there cannot be security or order where there is injustice.
He said:”As we clamour for peace we must bear in mind that peace will only exist where there is justice. Examples abound in history that there can be no security or order where there is injustice since injustice is an infringement on the rights of citizens.”
“I therefore call on our leaders in the spirit of the 2019 International Human Rights Day commemorated on December 10, to create an enabling environment where the respect for human dignity will be observed as a national duty. I also urge other civil society groups to join the effort towards moving Nigeria to a place where peace and justice will reign.” He said
According to him the LCCN are aware that the culture of peace aspires to a global ethic of reconciliation and when put side by side to their teaching, which in turn shapes our values and ethics, they are obliged to put this workshop in place.
He welcome the idea that the workshop is another milestone in the effort to domesticate the principle of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR), where governments across the world are tasked to respect the rights of citizens irrespective of their race, colour or creed.
In his speech he further opined that LWF supported and facilitated the submission of a Shadow report to the 31st Session of UPR in 2018. The report which we prepared in collaboration with the Adamawa State Unity Forum (AUF) and Global Peace and Reconciliation Initiative (GPRI) has continued to engage more people and groups in the effort to promote and respect the rights of every citizen.
“It is important to note that The Lutheran World Federation (which LCCN is a member) has adopted seven priorities for global advocacy which include: religious freedom and interfaith relations; climate change and environmental protection; gender justice; refugees, internally displaced people and other forced migrants; oppressed minorities and indigenous people; economic justice; and HIV and AIDS. One body through which the LWF promotes justice and human rights is the United Nations. That explains why we are involved. Since the LWF can take part in discussions of the Human Rights Council by delivering oral statements or submitting written statements to raise human rights concerns, the UPR has been a very essential tool for participation.” He added
He continue to say that:
“For us as a church we see this as a role to ensure that humans are not only spiritually catered for but also socially protected and provided for. The church must also play a role to ensure that human beings are living in peace with one another and to preach coexistence and salvation. The LCCN as a church is involved also because of our core belief in the sanctity of all human life as created by God (Genesis 2:27) and the northeast, in particular Numan Federation which has been the centre of the Farmers and Herders crises is the home of LCCN. Therefore, it behoves on the church to explore every possible way to promote peace and call for the protection of lives and properties of people. This has already been done in several ways since the crises started and the participation in the UPR is one of such involvements.
“In furtherance of the above, I would like to see this workshop bring together various ideas from you participants such that will shape a future built on justice and peace for the generations yet unborn. We have a duty to ensure that rights are protected but first we must also learn to respect the rights of one another and seek the good of each other.
“What UPR is offering us is for us to be able to hold government accountable for Human Right protection and promotion that Nigeria has signed into. This is what we will do and this is what I am calling on all of you to do. Let us hold our government accountable to ensure that the rights of Nigerians are not trampled upon wherever they are and whatever tribe or religion they belong to. At the same time, we must also support any government initiative to promote peace and justice in our society. The greatest challenge for peace and justice is the ease with which we make speeches about peace and justice. The hard work is being peaceful ourselves, living peacefully and walking justly.
“Therefore, I call on the participants to please use the knowledge gained in this programme hereafter so that you can contribute effectively to the global movement against violations of Human Rights and institutionalise the promotion and protection of human rights as the core value of our respective organisations and groups.
“Let me end by appreciating the various groups here represented to join hands with us in our quest for the promotion of Human Rights and peaceful coexistence among our people. Your being here shows your commitment to peace building, religious harmony and love for common good of us all. As a church leader I will always look forward to this kind of gathering where Christians and Muslims, farmers and herders, traders and sundry are gathered to this single course: the promotion of Rights. I when we stand up against the indignity of any human being we are also standing up against our indignity. Our nation and our world would no doubt be different when we together work for justice and peace, when we together stand up for the dignity of all.”
