*Says Nigeria sliding into dictatorship
*Adds post-Feb 25 events testament nation’s institutions not working
By OUR REPORTER
Nigeria’s opposition Labour Party (LP), on Thursday, described the judgment of the Supreme Court upholding the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as sad, adding that ”the judgement has destroyed the fabrics of Nigeria’s democracy.”
This position of the party was made known by the LP’s National Chairman, Mr. Julius Abure, while reacting to the Thursday ruling of the highest court in the country and he said the party is “shocked and surprised that the apex Court will toe the line of the September 6 judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal ( PEPT), despite the flaws inherent in it.
Abure, in a statement personally signed by him, said the party “watched as the sacred fabric of justice and good conscience was shredded today (yesterday) at the Supreme Court as it delivered its verdict in the case between our party’s Presidential candidate, and the APC Presidential candidate.”
According to Abur, ”We are indeed very shocked and surprised that even the apex Court will toe the line of an earlier judgement in spite of all the flaws associated with the judgment delivered by the Presidential Election Appeal Tribunal.
“Having conclusively exercised our fundamental rights as gifted to us by the laws of the land, we have no other choice but to move on.
“We may be disappointed and dismayed by the outcome of the exercise but we have chosen to trudge on and to remain optimistic of what the future holds for the nation.
“We weep for our Institutions that cannot rise to the occasion and courageously defend democracy and the voices of our people.”
Abure, however, noting that there are great lessons to be learned, added that ”what transpired in Nigeria since the February 25 presidential election is a clear testament that our institutions are not working and that we may be sliding towards dictatorship.
“It is very clear that the executive has hijacked both the judiciary and the legislature. This is so unfortunate for our democracy and even more for the people of Nigeria.
“All that our forebearers taught us has been destroyed within a short space of time because of the Unbridled ambition of a few. The founding fathers fought with their lives to achieve independence for the country.
“People lost their lives in the struggle to keep our democracy and all these years people have been struggling to achieve electoral and constitutional reforms. Regrettably, all of these efforts and struggles have been destroyed today.
“It is also pertinent to put on record that we have it on very good authority that the government may have marked some Labour Party’s key leaders, myself especially and our leader and Presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi in particular for vilification, in order to suppress the party, suffocate our team, and our goal of a new Nigeria.
“The planned persecution, intimidation, suppression and harassment of our leaders using security agencies and all other government institutions will be definitely defended.
Abure called on all members, and the Obidient family to be vigilant and brace up for the challenges ahead, adding that “The struggle for a New Nigeria will certainly be tortuous and hard.
He also appealed to the International community to rise to the occasion to defend democracy in Nigeria.
“Your voices were loud and clear in condemnation of the presidential election’s outcome. As we approach the next stage of our democratic journey, we call on you to stand by the millions of Nigerians who are already pushed beyond their limits into unnecessary hardship and penury.
“Finally, we urge Nigerians not to lose hope in our Country. Though we are paying a huge price to achieve the Nigeria of our desire. We are hopeful that we will get to our destination someday because where there is a will, certainly, there will be a way. A new Nigeria is still possible.”
