Mr Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra state and labour party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has threatened to dump labour party if the prevailing internal crisis continues. Noting that he really wants to salvage the party but cannot possibly die with it.
The threat is coming as a result of the internal conflicts that is ravaging the party, following the ownership and leadership tussle.
Recall that the party has been plagued with leadership tussle between Julius Abure and Apapa Lamidi factions over the position of the National Chairmanship and amidst that, arose the Nigerian Labour Congress claiming ownership of the party.
Mr Peter Obi revealed that several efforts have been made to reconcile and amicably settle the crisis but all efforts are proving abortive. He therefore resolved that if the crisis continues, he will rather leave the party, after all he is more passionate about building a new Nigeria than building a new Labour Party, he stated
“We are thinking about water, we are thinking about power, we are thinking about employment, thinking about security. That should be our focus.
“The other matter we will deal with. We were somewhere, we didn’t start with Labour.
“I’m a Christian. Jesus said, When you go into a city, try to change them, live with them, fast with them. in the end, if you can’t, come out and even wash the sand that is on your shoes.
“He didn’t say go there and die with them. I tell you, I’m making spirited efforts to change them (LP), but I’m not going to die with them.
“That will not stop what we set out to do. We will try to change them (LP), if we can’t, we will leave them; we will not die with them.”
Convention
The labour party recently conducted its national convention at the Grand Seasons Hotel, in Nnewi, Anambra state. Julius Abure was re-elected as the national Chairman of the party. However, many stakeholders of the party, including board of trustees frowned at the outcome of the convention. Peter Obi was said to have missed the convention as well on the premise that due process were not followed.
The BoT in a statement by its Chairman, Z. Ejiofor, described the convention held in Anambra State as a ‘charade.’
“Unlike the charade that took place today in Nnewi and in tandem with the principles of popular democracy, the all-inclusive national convention will start with grassroots congresses at ward, local government, state and ultimately at the national level. This process will not leave any genuine member of Labour Party out and will be held in the full view of the Independent National Electoral Commission, media, civil society, security agents and the general public,” the statement said.
The statement also validated Nigeria Labour Congress as the rightful owners of labour party.
“Federal High Court consent judgment delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole which recognised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as the owners of the Labour Party and mandated that an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention of the Labour Party be held.
“The decision of the Board of Trustees is also in furtherance of the agreement signed between the former National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on 27th June 2022 which was mediated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” the statement added.
