Be Voice of Conscience, Defend FoRB in Your States, Legal Practitioner Charges New FFA Graduands
Our Reporter
New graduates of the Faith and Freedom Africa (FFA) Youth Digital Advocacy Cohort have been charged to be the voice of conscience and ambassadors of peace in their communities.
The charge was given by Barrister John Simon Tsok, lawyer and notary public, while administering the oath of induction to the first cohort of the programme in Jos, Plateau State.
Barrister Tsok commended Faith and Freedom Africa for the opportunity to administer the oath, noting that without it, the participants would be deemed as not having graduated.
Speaking on the nexus between FoRB and governance, Tsok said good governance has gone beyond mere governance and that freedom of religion or belief is an integral dimension of good governance and human rights.
“Freedom of religion or belief is part of human rights. It is part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declared on December 10, 1948, in Paris. Nigeria is a signatory and therefore cannot do otherwise,” he said.
He charged the graduands to return to their respective states and track how governance is carried out, ensuring that freedom of religion or belief is protected and documenting abuses where they occur.
According to him, human dignity is a constitutional issue, with Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution guaranteeing dignity of the human person, while peaceful coexistence and FoRB remain responsibilities for government at all levels and for citizens.
Linking migration to religious violence, Tsok lamented that religion has been weaponised and has become toxic in Nigeria.
“There are so many Nigerians you meet abroad who make reference to lack of peace due to religious intolerance,” he said.
He recounted meeting a young Nigerian in Canada whose family lived in Jos for years and owned a house but had to leave after the crises of 2001 and 2008 in Plateau State. The family first moved to southern Nigeria before the young man eventually migrated to the United Kingdom and then to Canada.
“Many Nigerians would not have to japa if not for the fear that these conflicts have brought,” he said.
He urged the graduands to be honest beyond public fora and to take the message of tolerance to every nook and cranny of their communities.
“You have a duty as you graduate today to be the voice of conscience. When you see something, say something. Do not just keep quiet after acquiring this training. You are to be ambassadors of peace and defenders of the fundamental rights of every person, regardless of religion, belief, ethnicity, gender or social background,” he said. He thereafter administered the Oath of Youth Advocacy, where members pledged to uphold human dignity, defend freedom of religion or belief, reject hatred, discrimination and violence, speak for the silenced, and commit to the values of Faith and Freedom Africa
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