DENIAL OF RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, CONSCIENCE AND RELIGION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria is in her fourth Republic in the history of democratic government which was intermittently punctuated by the military rule. Since 29th May, 1999 the country has enjoyed the longest civilian government. This work recognizes that democratic rule has ushered in numerous democratic values and concomitant advantage of human rights protection. Acceptably, human rights more often than not, are not absolute but where, by law, they are not derogable, it behooves all and sundry including government to uphold the tenets of human right. For the purpose of this work, it is probably just enough to do three things. The first is to clarify the concepts of human rights and the constitutional application in Nigeria. The second is to interrogate the assumption about Nigeria situation by attempting a catalogue of some instances where human rights protection to freedom of religion, so far amounts to rhetoric’s. The third, by way of conclusion, is to ask how we might apply our constitution, democracy and order as Nigerians to address the issue at stake.