If nothing, but for compassionate and humanitarian reasons, the Lagos State government could have been more circumspect, considering the illegality and unconstitutionality of its forced deportation of beggars to their states of origin; as the action violates the fundamental rights of such citizens enshrined in extant sections of the 1999 constitution. Notably, the deportations constitute an affront to the human rights and dignity of the beggars (Section 34), personal liberty (Section 35), freedom of movement (Section 41), and right of residence in any part of Nigeria (Section 43). Since there is no guarantee that the beggars will not find their way back to where they were deported, the controversial deportations serve no rational public policy purpose besides heating up the polity; it is callous, insensitive and dehumanizing to the poor and should be halted immediately in the interest of peace and stability.
There is no existing law in Nigeria which empowers the federal and state governments to deport any group of Nigerian citizens to their states of origin. Amidst the abject poverty in the land, the campaign has rightly been viewed as a war against the poor. The matter has gone past the caution threshold, as it has further deepened the ethnic and religious cleavages in the country. Understandably, deportation of citizens is always an emotive issue. The emotions now trailing the deportations is an open and nagging reminder of the failure of the State to provide for the welfare and security of the people, which is the primary purpose of government.
It is worth noting that the war being waged against the poor and dispossessed citizens by state governments has been ongoing, until the recent much publicized deportation of about 70 indigenes of Anambra State who were dumped in Onitsha; triggering a shouting match between Governor Peter Obi and his Lagos counterpart, Babatunde Fashola. Available reports say the victims were abducted on the road, detained in a camp and then transported in a sealed trailer to Onitsha, under the cover of darkness. This is totally unacceptable and condemnable. It is a contravention of international and national legal instruments of human rights. No explanation can justify this affront on the constitutional rights of those indigent men, women and children; as citizens of Nigeria, to live in a place of their choice within their country. Even if they were lunatics, or vagabonds, as the Lagos State government want us to believe; the truth is that they still deserve some humane treatment. After all, they are still Nigerians created by God in His own image.
It is sad to note that on this issue of deportation, Gov. Obi’s hypocrisy stinks to the high Heavens. It is a matter of public record that in December 2011, Anambra deported 29 beggars to Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi states. Afraid of being accused of double standards, Gov. Obi did not raise a finger in protest when, in 2012, Abia state purged its civil service of “non-indigenes” leaving the victims of the unjust policy who hail mostly from Imo and Anambra states destitute. On April 9, 2009, the Lagos State government deported 129 beggars of Oyo origin and dumped them at Molete in Ibadan. In June 2011, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) deported 129 beggars to their respective states of origin. In May 2013, hundreds more were expelled from Abuja. As late as last week, the Rivers State deported 113 Nigerians from Port Harcourt to their states of origin. Huhuonline.com understands that Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom has notified his Lagos counterpart of the planned deportation of two “mad Lagosians” roaming the streets of Uyo. Many other state governments are busy deporting beggars, mad men and other destitute in the on-going beautification of state capitals.
While it may not be certain the exact extent of the problem, there are sufficient reasons to believe that it is now assuming some tit-for-tat notoriety which, to say the least is worrisome. To be sure, these actions constitute not only a total breach of the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights; but an infringement on the human rights of the victims. Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ratified in 2004) specifically bans discrimination on grounds of “social origin, fortune, birth or other status.” Also, a policy that caters only for the rich cannot be justified under Article 13 of the African Charter which provides that every citizen shall have equal access to the public services of his/her country.
It is also important to note that Lagos, apart from being a state, is a former Federal Capital Territory. And so, every Nigerian has a stake in Lagos state just like Abuja. By targeting the poor and destitute and deporting them to their states of origin the state governments involved are violating Section 42 of the Constitution which bans discrimination on the basis of place of birth or state of origin. Besides, these deportations amount to a repudiation of Section 15 of the Constitution which imposes a duty on States to promote national integration; and charges them with the responsibility of securing “full residence rights for every citizen in all parts of the Federation.” It is therefore illegal to remove poor people from the streets of state capitals without providing them with alternative accommodation.
As condemnable as this policy is, it is a reflection of the deepening crisis and contradictions of the Nigerian state, especially given its grossly apparent declining capacity, if not total failure, to measure up to its responsibilities in all ramifications. When the level of robbery by public officials and the absurdity of their extravagant life style vis-à-vis the squalor of the majority are considered, the desperation of those beggars and squatters may not be justified, but that desperation advertises its depth and breadth as encompassing criminality and soullessness. This should tug at the heart-strings of members of the occupation brigade otherwise called leaders. It ought to be clear to the Federal and State governments that the beggars who are being stigmatized, harassed and deported to their States of origin are Nigerian citizens whose only crime is that they are poor. As Nigerians, we need to understand the grave implication of this obnoxious policy; we need to ask, which constitutional provision formed the basis for the cruel deportation of our fellow citizens. Is it now a crime for one to be poor? What effort are we making as a nation to assist the poor and is mass deportation a lasting solution to the problem?
While Nigerians labor for breathe under bureaucratic overweight, political corruption, and a bastardized economy, these dissonances have meant impoverishment for the citizens; about 50% of whom live below the poverty line. Unemployment soars amidst obscene display of opulence by the political elite. Of course, there is disillusionment among the teeming population, who are forced to migrate to the cities to eke out a living, amid harsh economic challenges. State governments bent on ridding their metropolis of the army of beggars and menacing “area boys” most of them desperate for economic survival, must put a human face to their actions. It is not too late for Nigerian leaders to change and make democracy work for the people. You cannot obliterate the poor to comfort the rich because in the end, the poor will rise up in protest. And they will do so knowing God is on their side, because God loves the poor; else HE would not have created so many of them!
