By: Joy Musa
The Movement for the Emancipation of Nigeria (MEN) has issued a stern condemnation of what it describes as an โunwarranted threatโ issued from the State House against former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, over his reported interest in contesting an upcoming election.
In a statement released on Monday and signed by its Commandant General, Solomon Dalung, Esq., MEN criticized a recent State House press release in which a presidential appointee allegedly made veiled threats toward Jonathan, calling the move โa reckless abuse of state power and a direct assault on Nigeriaโs democracy.โ
According to the group, the former president is a private citizen with full constitutional rights and should not be subjected to intimidation for considering participation in the democratic process.
โGoodluck Jonathan is a private citizen with the same constitutional right as any Nigerian to seek elective office. No one โ not even those currently in Aso Rock โ has the authority to intimidate or silence him,โ the statement read.
The group further accused the presidency of using state resources to attack political opponents and warned that such actions would not go unchallenged by Nigerians committed to democratic governance.
โWe remind President Tinubu and his handlers that the Nigerian state belongs to the people, not a party or cabal. State power is a trust, not a weapon. Attempting to bully citizens for exercising their rights is not only cowardly โ it is undemocratic and unacceptable,โ the statement continued.
MEN demanded an immediate apology to Dr. Jonathan, sanctions against the official responsible for the statement, and a public commitment to uphold democratic norms.
The group concluded by warning that any attempts to muzzle political opposition or manipulate democratic processes would be fiercely resisted by the Nigerian people.
โNigeria is not a dictatorship โ and we will resist every attempt to make it one,โ Dalung warned.
As of press time, the presidency has not officially responded to MENโs statement.
