The Labour Party, LP, on Thursday said those killed during the EndSARS protest at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos died for the emergence of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
LP made the remark while accusing the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, of failing the Nigerian youths and making it difficult for them to pursue their dreams.
Moses Ogidi-Paul, the Assistant National Youth Leader of LP, spoke in a statement to mark the second year anniversary of the EndSARS Lekki Tollgate massacre.
Ogidi-Paul warned that a victory for either APC or PDP would further crush the will of the Nigerian youths.
The member of the LP Presidential Campaign Council said: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have failed the Nigerian youth. They have made it difficult for the Nigerian youth to dream or pursue their dreams. One cannot bear to imagine how easily Nigerian students excel abroad with some breaking decades-old academic records.
“The reason is simply because opportunity was denied at home. Nepotism would deny them scholarship. Tribalism will make employment impossible. Religion will kill them on the street. This is the pitiable situation we live in that has kept many young people from reaching their potentials with some turning to crime as a result.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria at this moment in our history needs an overhaul of our entire ideological architecture to reflect democratic tenets of justice, equity, fairness and respect for the rule of law
if we must make any headway in the search for our nation’s soul. This must be by a system that
recognises the stakeholding of the youth of Nigeria.
“The current electioneering cycle has further affirmed the position of the youth of Nigeria on the
leadership of the country and how much they matter in it. The vibrant and massive support of the youth for the presidential bid of Mr. Peter Gregory Obi of the Labour Party and his running mate, Dr, Yusuf Ahmed-Baba Datti, has stretched their voices beyond the #endsars protest into the future for which that march was made. Little wonder youth in leadership and development is a pivotal theme of the ObiDatti Campaign. We have seen this in the recent appointment of spokespersons and other campaign council members.
“There is no doubt that a Peter Obi presidency will reignite hope in the hearts of the young people of Nigeria everywhere in the world. And a nation in search of its soul will finally find it with the youth leading the way. I call on all young people of Nigeria, everywhere they may be in the world, to make the realisation of
the ObiDatti presidential bid their personal project. A victory for PDP or APC will retain the old system in power and further crush the will of the youth.
“We must rise above their whims and schemes, above bribery and inducements, above intimidation and other vices targeted at subverting the will of our people at the polls. Don’t be a by-stander. Be involved. Go get your PVC, encourage someone to get theirs, and please, vote and protect your votes.
“This is what our comrades died for, at Lekki Toll gate and other locations across the country.
“This is why we remember today, that from the ashes of their sacrifice a new Nigeria will rise and no Nigerian will ever be gunned down by a Nigerian policeman or soldier. They died so we may see today, the emergence of a new Nigeria from a Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti victory at the ballot next year. This is the only way we can trace the blood trails to freedom. Rest in peace dear comrades. Your sacrifice will not be in vain.”
