Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has slammed those criticising former President Olusegun Obasanjo for publicly endorsing Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, for the presidency.
The group reminded such individuals that rights to freedom of expression are enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal declaration of human rights.
The rights group said anyone, group or individual criticising the open endorsement of Obi by Obasanjo is not a real and genuine democrat but an anarchist
According to the group, those politicians against the endorsement are showing early signs that if they are elected Nigerian President, they would be intolerant to dissenting opinions and could progressively become dictators.
Obasanjo in his New Year message recommended Obi to Nigerians because he(Obasanjo thinks the Anambra-born politician has indisputable credibility in all facets of leadership.
However, the endorsement has attracted criticisms from the other political formations, adding that it was shocking that politicians, who had themselves gone to Obasanjo for endorsements are now dismissing his recommendation of Obi as meaningless.
The human rights advocacy group, therefore, called for greater tolerance of dissenting opinions by candidates.
“Constitutional democracy thrives under the atmosphere of the free exercises of the entire scopes of the fundamental human rights provisions enshrined in the Constitution and codified in the diverse international human rights laws, treaties and conventions signed on by Nigeria and domesticated into our local statutes and laws,” the group said in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Comrade. Emmanuel Onwubiko.