The Right to Personal Liberty by Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

From the religious point of view, the right to personal liberty of any individual is naturally restricted, when sinful acts are committed, criminal or civil, in a way that the long hands of the law catches up with such an individual. As a result such a person’s movement is restricted.

There is a need for all to conscious of the fact that the right to personal liberty guarantees the quality or state of being free. This makes us to realize the fact that the ability to do as one pleases must not be abused, since it guarantees a benefit of freedom from physical restraint, freedom from arbitrary or despotic control and the positive benefits of various socio-political or economic rights and privileges.

The right to personal liberty is freely enjoyed by children and the youth in their Id and ego stages of life, whereby parents are totally responsible for their care and protection. This is why good parenting is required to ensure that the children enjoy the right to personal liberty under their parents.

In the general society, the power or scope to act as one pleases extends to the state of being free withing the society, from oppressive restrictions imposed by the authorities on an individual’s way of life.

This equally bothers on the two perspectives of behavior and political inclination.

This makes it imperative for every citizen to be law abiding by ensuring that one’s liberty is never used in form of abuse or in an act which may be harmful to a person, society or the nation at large.

Indeed, personal liberty must be cherished by channeling it towards the positive aspects life to make one independent, self-sufficient, innovative and creative, straightforward person to be trusted.

Personal liberty leads to the empowerment of the citizen, who contributes positively to a nation’s development.

The right to personal liberty, therefore, ensures that every citizen irrespective of status is entitled to personal liberty and must not be deprived of such liberty, except in a procedure permitted by law.

Also read-Legalizing Crime and Criminality

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