The Free Nigeria Movement, a civil society organization, has called on the federal government to compensate all victims of electoral violence before, during, and after the 2023 general elections.
The group made the request as part of its demands regarding the conduct of the recently concluded election in Nigeria.
The convener of the group, Moses Ogidi-Paul, stated at a press conference on Monday in Abuja that the group was dissatisfied with the conduct of the general election.
“To say the least, the events of the last few days have been marked by vile desperation by those whose contribution to our country has been a steady output of violence, distortion of national ethos, ineptitude, and disillusioned governance,” he said. We are witnessing the naked dance of impunity on a national scale, with the desperate attempt to silence opposing voices and impose a predetermined narrative.
“In light of these events, it bears repeating that our country is not a military state and must not be allowed to operate at the dictatorial pace of a junta.” A simple search through history reveals that cultures and societies that support and idolize criminals perish in the fires of extinction. We cannot allow our country to perish, no matter how broken, scarred, or traumatized we are. Because Nigeria is our mother.
“We owe her care and protection, and we must not abandon her to incestuous rape by corrupt politicians by remaining silent.” To summarize, whatever gold silence has amassed since February 25th, 2023 has lost its ethical value. Any further investigation would amount to dealing in blood, as the cost would be the lives, faith, and hope of poor Nigerians, whom we represent today at this table.
“In the last twenty-one days, we have made a consistent call for the presidential election to be canceled, risking our lives in the face of threats from political thugs and violence merchants, some of whom have since camped out at the Unity Fountain.” We have given presentations to the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as country representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, and the ECOWAS Commission. We also held a press conference to clarify our position on the declaration of an Interim National Government, after an ill-conceived attempt by spin doctors to frame it as a call for a military takeover stoked tensions in the political arena. We also held national prayers for the country. Above all, we have maintained a nonviolent stance in our efforts to obtain redress for our grievances.
“Our resolve is founded on truth, faith, and hope, as well as the dangerous, if not suicidal, conviction that illegality will always breed illegality.”
