CAHR Calls for Reflection and Justice on Independence Day …Demands release of detained journalist, Fejiro Oliver

By Diafa Doubra,

As Nigeria marked her 65th Independence anniversary on Wednesday, the Conference for the Actualization of Human Rights (CAHR), Delta State Chapter, has urged Nigerians to use the day for sober reflection rather than celebration. The group said despite more than six decades of self-rule, the country is yet to experience true freedom and good governance.

In a statement signed by its Delta State Director, Prince Ukuanovwe Godstime OJ, CAHR lamented that Nigerians are still burdened by corruption, poor leadership, decaying infrastructure, and economic hardship. The organization expressed concern that the promise of independence had been replaced by inequality, unemployment, and the suppression of human rights.

According to the group, “Sixty-five years after independence, Nigeria continues to grapple with misrule, corruption, and systemic injustice. True independence remains elusive as the people suffer from poverty and neglect while leaders enrich themselves.”

CAHR called on both the Federal and State Governments, particularly the Delta State Government, to take urgent steps to uphold human rights, strengthen democracy, and ensure the rule of law. It also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of investigative journalist and activist, Fejiro Oliver, who is currently in detention in Delta State.

The group further condemned the increasing harassment of human rights defenders, journalists, and activists across the country, describing such acts as “a direct assault on democracy and the principles of freedom.”

“Freedom is not about flags, ceremonies, or rhetoric, it is about justice, equality, and opportunity for all,” the statement read. “Nigerians must not celebrate blindly but reflect on the need to hold leaders accountable and demand a government that truly serves the people.”

CAHR reiterated that genuine independence can only be achieved when citizens rise above repression, corruption, and inequality, insisting that the time for real change is now.