The Cross River Coordinator, Amnesty International, Gabriel Aniabi, has said that the organization is independent of any government, political ideology and economic interests.
Aniabi made this statement during the inauguration of a Human Rights Clinic at the University of Calabar, saying the organization is not anti-government nor being sponsored by any.
According to him, Amnesty International is for everyone and had at some point, saved some great Nigerians such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Fela Ransome-Kuti and Agba Jalingo, among others.
The coordinator said Amnesty International became handy when people needed somebody to speak for them when their rights were violated.
”We have to beam our searchlights on Nigerian Universities after the disturbing trend of sex for grades was exposed by a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reporter a few years ago.
“This spurred Amnesty International to take this fight against human rights to the universities to enable the students know what their rights are, how to stand up for their rights and channels they can pass through to access justice,” he said.
On her part, Prof Florence Obi, Vice Chancellor of UNICAL, said she was very pleased with the human rights training of the students in the institution.
Represented by Prof Anthony Eyang, Dean of Student Affairs, Obi said she is a strong promoter of justice and human rights.
She noted that training of the students was in tandem with the environment she was working hard to establish in UNICAL.
“With over 40,000 students and 7,000 staff, there will be issues among people, so, I hope that those of the students that have been trained by Amnesty International in this clinic will shine their light on campus in promoting human rights and justice,” she said.
We’re not anti-government – Amnesty International
