6th June, 2024
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Labour Party has renamed its newly created Obidient Directorate as the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration after a strong disclaimer of the move by its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The mostly youthful supporters of Peter Obi are generally known as Obidients.
Labour Party had some weeks ago set up what it described as the Obidient Directorate to formally incorporate them into the party.
The party later appointed executives for the Directorate while it scheduled its formal inauguration for Saturday, 8 June in Abuja.
However, Obi had in a statement issued on Wednesday evening opposed the move to formally incorporate the Obidient Movement into the Labour Party.
The former Anambra Governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Dr Yunusa Tanko, on Thursday in Awka said membership of Obidient Movement cut across political party, tribe, religion or geopolitical region.
“I like to categorically state that the Obidient movement is not a directorate in any particular political party.
“Any individual or individuals claiming to be leaders of this non-existent directorate are simply not members of the broader Obidient Movement.
“There may be a youth mobilization directorate in political parties but the Obidient movement is far beyond a particular political party.
“The Obidient Movement is a diverse and inclusive collective that transcends traditional political, religious, and ethnic affiliations.
“It is not domiciled within any particular party or headquartered in any particular part of the country, its membership spans across Africa and the globe, comprising individuals from various backgrounds,” he said.
“I want this to serve as a clarification that the Obidient Movement operates independently, and that its membership is not limited to any particular party,” Obi said.
Following the disclaimer, Labour Party announced that it has renamed Obidient Directorate as Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration in a statement by its spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh on Thursday.
“Following the controversies arising from the creation of the Directorate of OBIDIENT Affairs, in the party, the Directorate is hereby renamed the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration.
“The inauguration will take place on Saturday June 8, 2024 at the party’s National Secretariat, Utako, Abuja by 10 am.
“Party members and the general public should take note,” Ifoh said.