Simisola Ogunleye better known as Simi, and who recently bagged an ambassadorial deal with the Constitutional Rights Awareness and Liberty Initiative, has opened up on her ordeal with the Nigerian police.
The vocalist and songwriter who will become the face of the company’s new mobile app known as “Know Your Rights Nigeria” revealed to Saturday Tribune that she has had her human rights “severally” infringed upon by men of the force.
“The last one was pretty dramatic and emotionally traumatic,” the singer said. “This is why it is important for everyone to know their rights.
“I have had several human right infringements. Not too long ago, I had a situation with the police force and it wasn’t a pretty picture,” she said.
The Joromi crooner was presented with the official ambassador’s plaque together with a Nollywood actor and producer at the US Consulate General Lagos during the week.
Speaking about her new deal as the face of “Know Your Rights Nigeria” app, Simisola Ogunleye said, “I am really glad to be able to speak to people on the thing that matters. Human right is a big deal and I am glad to be a voice for that.
“I will do my best to bring awareness to the public about their rights and what they can do about them.
“There have been situations when my rights have been trampled upon and if I knew the things I know now, I would have taken appropriate measures.”
The mobile applications designed to provide access to information on fundamental human rights of Nigerians as obtained in the Constitution is aimed at addressing a wide range of human right abuses in the country.
Also speaking at the launch of the mobile app, the former vice president of the World Bank and Bring Back Our Girls champion, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili charged Nigerians to ensure the observation of their human rights.
She said, “We must rise up to defend our rights, because these rights were not given to us by men. Like Fela said, “Nobody can dash us human right. We are born with it. It is a right that the constitution specifies and we must continue to hold our leaders accountable for it.
“The minimum that we must secure is the right guaranteed in the constitution. As this particular mobile app brings to our attention these rights, we must read them, know them, we must speak them, we must live them and we must demand for their observance”, she said.
The apps, which was developed in Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages will be available for free download on Android, Apple and Windows operating devices, was funded by a grant of the US Consulate General Lagos.