The coalition criticised the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) which dismissed the petitions against the electoral victory of President Bola Tinubu.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Civil Society and Advocacy Coalition has called on Nigerians to take back their country from what it described as ‘cabal-state captors’.
The coalition made the call in a statement titled “Slavery is not an Option – A Clarion Call for Action” issued on Thursday and signed by Emmanuel Ihim (Diaspora Alliance) and Yetundu Nlemchi (YESPOSG FCT Coordinator).
It criticised the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) which dismissed the petitions against the electoral victory of President Bola Tinubu.
The statement said, “In times of uncertainty, where the fabric of a nation is tested and strained, the onus of salvaging its soul falls upon its people. Nigerians, amidst the turbulence, must remember an age-old wisdom: that while adhering to written laws forms the bedrock of a civilized society, there exists a higher, almost ethereal, set of laws that beckon in times of dire need:
“Whereas Nigerian citizens find themselves bound in chains, both seen and unseen, and our beloved nation, swayed by the winds of “the Cabals,” faces the rising tides of creeping Fascism and the audacious subversion of our Constitution, rendering same valueless.
“Whereas Nigeria, once the torchbearer of democratic ideals in Africa, now grapples with questions that threaten the very pillars of its existence. By many accounts, the Tribunal’s endorsement verdict of Bola Tinubu’s presidency veers away from the revered pathways set by our Constitution and Electoral Law, with its ripple effects sending shockwaves domestically and internationally.
“This suspected ‘electoral theft’ tarnishes our nation’s reputation and strikes at the core of our democratic values, casting doubts and challenging the integrity of our collective spirit.
“Whereas the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) judgment was bereft of justice, fairness, and impartiality but inundated with nonsensical technicalities.
“Whereas their recent pronouncement lacks the essence of justice, is clouded with irrationalities, and reflects a palpable neglect of our cherished Rule of Law, the tenets of our Constitution, and the guidelines set by the Electoral Act 2022.
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“Whereas emerging disclosures signal an alarming trend, suggesting that Nigerians find themselves entrapped, manoeuvred into a position of subservience by a seemingly insurmountable political power.
“Whereas the spirit of democracy is not just about casting votes but safeguarding the essence of freedom, liberty, and justice for all, ensuring that every citizen’s voice, no matter how soft, is heard and valued.
“Whereas every Nigerian youth, elder, and child deserves a nation where they can dream without fear, speak without retribution, and live with dignity. NOW THEREFORE, recognizing this perilous juncture in our nation’s journey, it is imperative that all Nigerians awaken from the shackles of complacency, from the slumber of “slavery mentality and piety.” We must reignite the flames of hope, muster every ounce of strength, and summon the courage to rise up, stand tall, and resist the looming threat of being entrenched into an era of permanent servitude.
“Suppose we falter now and fail to take a stand. In that case, we risk a life not only devoid of freedom, hope, and dignity but also consigning our generation and that of our children to permanent servitude and slavery of the ‘Cabal-State captors.’ As guardians of this great nation, as the stewards of our shared destiny, the choice is squarely before us: to reclaim our homeland, to rekindle the spirit of democracy, or to let the annals of history remember us as the generation that stood by, silent and defeated. Rise, Nigeria, for the time to act is now.”