The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Barr. Julius Abure, has raised the alarm that himself and the party’s Presidential candidate in the February 25 2023 election, Peter Obi, have been marked by the ruling class for suppression aimed at decimating the party and the Obidient Movement.
Abure, who spoke at a press conference on Thursday while disagreeing with the judgment of the Supreme Court on the February 25th presidential poll, said that the vilification agenda by the authorities of the federal government is to destroy the mission of the party which is rescuing Nigeria from the hands of criminal gangs.
“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 – 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 defended.”
He called on members of the party at all levels and the Obidient Family to be vigilant and brace up for the challenges ahead.
“The struggle for a New Nigeria will certainly be tortuous and hard. We are also calling on the International community to rise to the occasion to defend democracy in Nigeria.
“Your voices were loud and clear in condemnation of the outcome of the Presidential election. 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.”
Abure said at the conference that the struggle by our founding fathers to build a nation where truth and justice shall reign and enthrone democracy has been destroyed, describing today as another sad day for democracy in Nigeria.
Below is the full text of the Press Conference:
The leadership of Labour Party watched as the sacred fabric of justice and good conscience was shredded today at the Supreme Court as it delivered its verdict in the case between our party the Presidential candidate and the APC Presidential candidate. We are indeed very shocked and surprised that even the apex Court will toe the line of an early judgment despite 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.
However, there are great lessons to learn. 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 it is even more for the people of Nigeria.
All that our forebearers taught us has been destroyed within a short space of time UNBRIDLED AMBITION OF 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 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.
We are therefore calling on all our members, and the Obidient family to be vigilant and brace up for the challenges ahead. The struggle for a New Nigeria will certainly be tortuous and hard.
We are also calling on the International community to rise to the occasion to defend democracy in Nigeria. Your voices were loud and clear in condemnation of the outcome of the presidential election. 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 a 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.
SIGNED
Barrister Julius Abure
National Chairman
Labour Party
26 – 10 – 2023
