28th July, 2024
By Isa Isawade
A Nollywood actor and former spokesman of the Labour Party’s presidential campaign council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has announced his exit from the party.
Okonkwo has also parted ways with the 2023 Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Dr Peter Obi.
In a statement titled “Political Journey to a Great Nigeria,” which he shared on his social media platforms on Saturday, Okonkwo cited his disappointment with the party’s internal crisis and the failure of Peter Obi to address it.
Okonkwo expressed his commitment to a great Nigeria built on equity, justice, and fairness, but stated that the current political parties, including the Labour Party, do not have what it takes to lead the country to greatness.
He emphasised that he was committed to a great Nigeria built on equity, justice, and fairness, where every citizen would be free and able to aspire to any position or level in life without regard to primordial sentiments built around ethnicity, religion, sex, or circumstances of birth.
According to Okonkwo, “It’s obvious that the APC or PDP, as presently constituted, do not have what it takes to lead us to a great Nigeria.
“Indeed, their combined leadership is trying to cripple Nigeria as this blessed country is now down economically, politically, and in every other index, leaving the people with no other option than to protest for their survival. They can see no hope for the future.
“Unfortunately, by our Constitution, we need a solid political party with a solid grassroots base to be able to wrestle power from these kakistocrats and kleptocrats.
“We, therefore, need a decisive leader who will be able to build such a party of integrity and character from the grassroots because, eventually, the majority of the people that will populate a government will proceed from the political party of the leader.”
He attributed Nigeria’s problems to a lack of internal democracy within parties which, he said, led to the emergence of incompetent and corrupt leaders in government.
He emphasised the need for a decisive leader who can build a party of integrity and character from the grassroots.
Okonkwo maintained that Nigeria needs a decisive leader who will be selfless enough, in boldness and bravery, to secure people’s victory.
According to him, he’s earnestly searching for a leader with the integrity, charisma and bravery to mobilise the people to sustain victory if Nigeria votes for such a person.
Okonkwo also lamented the current situation in the Labour Party which he said has motivated him to pursue a new political direction.
He expressed disappointment that after the 2023 general election, the hope that he along with many other Nigerians, had in the Labour Party has been dashed.
Okonkwo said his faith in Peter Obi’s potential “to build a strong, integrity-driven party capable of overthrowing corrupt leaders” had been misplaced.
“I received my first shock when he publicly declared that he didn’t promise Nigerians to build a strong Labour Party, but to solve Nigeria’s problems. I was like, does it mean HE Peter Obi is not aware that without a solid party base, we are heading nowhere politically? However, I continued in his defence believing he would still privately bring the needed solution to LP’s problems. To no avail.
“PO also publicly demanded that the Abure-led National Working Committee must organise an all-inclusive convention that will guarantee the participation of all members of the Labour Party in the choice of their leaders. This didn’t happen, and surprisingly, PO refused to disassociate himself from the shenanigans and criminal activities of the former NWC as their time had expired,” Okonkwo said.
He added that every member of the Labour Party was in confusion as to the party’s future due to a lack of leadership from Peter Obi, saying when members look to him for guidance on Obi’s standpoint, “I have nothing to say because I’m unaware.”
He said he could not continue to speak on behalf of a leader whose stance on important issues is unknown to him.
“I am shocked that PO could not openly support the noble efforts of the Labour Unions who founded the Labour Party as a base to fight for the welfare of workers to the extent that some of them are openly saying that PO is now the problem of LP.
“The Labour Unions now have an unfortunate situation where they are fighting criminals who want to hijack their party when an ordinary statement from Peter Obi would have brought the solution. I cannot continue with this ambivalence forever, Okonkwo asserted.
