President-elect inauguration: Labour Party believes Nigeria deserves better

Barr. Julious Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, has stated that Nigeria deserves better than the current leadership being provided by individuals he described as “the same characters” who are to blame for Nigerians’ misery.

This was said by Abure in a statement that reiterated the party’s stance on today’s presidential inauguration in Abuja.

In the statement that was issued on Sunday, the LP Chairman said, “We wish to say strongly, to all Nigerians and all friends of Nigeria, worldwide: Nigeria has long and ardously suffered from bad leadership, which has continued to revolve around the same characters, same political parties, and same political class.

“Our people deserve a government that can manage the country for the good of all with sincerity, creativity, and discipline.

“A government that can reduce the biting tension and difficulties that families face in meeting their living needs and a government that can reduce the reckless corruption, rebuild national institutions, and reposition the country in all ramifications.”

The party noted that while it was evident that the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will swear in the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the disputed 2023 Presidential Election, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, as President, the genuine will of Nigerians as expressed on February 25, 2023, cannot be wished away.

Abure said, “The massive mobilization, rejuvenation, and affirmation of the people, as expressed in the election of February 25th 2023, was not to hand over the reins of government, to the same people, with historical very bad record of conduct, performance, and irresponsibility, but for a new order, where the people will have a greater stake in government, and more direct influence in the implementation and supervision of development.

“This New Majority of Nigerian people, from all walks of life, who have awakened to a new consciousness, will not leave the initiative of national development to those who have proved their chronic inability to improve the country by their mismanagement, impunity, and failures.

“That is the trust the people have placed in the Labour Party and the presidential ticket of Mr Peter Obi and Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.

“This is the same burden of trust, we owe the Nigerian people, to see this matter to lawful and logical resolution.

“The reality and tragedy of this presidential election have already been well highlighted, to national and global attention.

“On that fateful day, Nigerians from across ethnic, political and social divides, fired by the promises of  President Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Mahmud Yakubu  INEC Chairman  reinvigorated hope for a new political and administrative order.  Having endured untold difficulties and rigors, in obtaining their PVC’s  trooped out in their millions to cast their
votes.

“In various states, state governors and public officials, particularly of the APC, directly influenced the voting and  threatened, abducted, and tortured electoral officials.

“However, despite varying serious reports of violence, malfunctioning electoral devices, and other hindrances, the voter accreditation and casting process, was fairly satisfactorily conducted.

“But after the counting of votes, a dark cloud engulfed the nation.” It became clear that the correct password, to transmit the Presidential Election results, electronically and instantly from the BVAS to the INEC IREV, had been criminally withheld, contrary to specifications of the law and contrary to repeated emphasis, directives, and promises to the nation and its citizens, by Professor Mahmood Yakubu and INEC officials.

“This deliberate act of criminal conspiracy, was the beginning of the most bizarre and crazy rigging of elections in our national history.

“As voting concluded, party officials, especially from the ruling APC, invaded collation centers nationwide, disrupting the process, inducing and intimidating officials. Manually alteration and mutilation of result sheets.

“All over the country, the pattern of this electoral criminality was consistent: votes lawfully casted for the Labour Party candidate, were changed, reduced, and added to increase votes casted for the
Presidential candidate of the APC.

“This not only formed the basis for the flagrant declarations of results at various levels in many parts of the country, totally at variance with the freely expressed wishes of the people, but also the basis for the proposed inauguration of the candidate of the APC, as the President of Nigeria.

“As a law abiding and responsible political party and conscious of the overwhelming support we enjoy across the country, we have taken the matter before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, in trust and hope for justice, and we will not comment further.”

The LP urged its supporters and all Nigerians to continue to express their passions, emotions, and frustrations, within the confines of the law.

Abure said the LP has no doubt, that in the fullness of time, as long as the party and its supporters know the truth and are prepared to keep standing by the truth, justice shall prevail.

He equally expressed confidence that Nigeria will regain the chance for a new direction, love and trust among our people, and true national growth.