4th September, 2024
By Paul Dada
Between 2022 and 2023, amid the growing disenchantment with the under performing administration led by former President Muhammadu Buhari and a weak opposition from the emasculated and factious Peoples Democratic Party, the Labour Party was able to attain unprecedented political heights in its history.
The developments in the political terrain during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, was an opportunity for the Labour Party to shine. And shine it did.
First, the inability or unwillingness of the PDP to contain the presidential ambition of the serial contender and loser Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, at the time the nation generally wanted a president from the south, was the Labour Party’s gain. Peter Obi a southerner who knew his dream of running for president on the platform the PDP, could not be achieved, moved to the Labour Party.
The exit of Obi as well as the disgruntlement of the G-5 governors of the PDP, served to weaken the chances of the party that once boasted to be the biggest in Africa.
On the other hand, there was a growing dissatisfaction with Buhari’s All Progressive Congress. Although, its then presidential candidate ( who is now the president) Bola Tinubu was (and remains) the most formidable politician in Nigeria, the growing influence of Obi and the fanatical support of the Obidients, it was believed by some, was going to hurt his fortunes.
Although, it turned out that Peter Obi and his Labour Party, came third in the presidential election, they certainly caused some upsets. Obi defeated Tinubu in the latter’s biggest political stronghold, Lagos.
With the influence of the Obidients in the Labour Party, it was able to win six senate and 34 House of Representatives seats. This was an unprecedented achievement in the history of the Labour Party.
But this political party, now bedeviled by seemingly intractable internal wrangling, has not been able to manage its success. Labour Party should have by now been steered to be the major opposition party at a time the PDP’s descent into irrelevance, is progressing. However, the selfish interests of some of its leadership is its albatross.
The LP has been in great turmoil. Earlier this year, its Chairman, Julius Abure organised an elective National Convention which was not supported by major stakeholders in the party. The Nigeria Labour Congress which claims the ownership of the Labour Party, does not believe that the Julius Abure led leadership is legitimate. Important LP stakeholders see the convention organised by Abure as a big sham.
Unlike President Bola Tinubu who is a rallying figure in the ruling APC, Peter Obi seems to lack the clout, competence and the political sagacity to foster reconciliation and unity in the Labour Party.
This view was expressed by Kenneth Okonkwo who was the spokesman for the Obi-Datti Campaign. Okonkwo who was resigning from the LP, censured both Obi and the party.
He said: “I have decided to continue my political journey into the great Nigeria of our vision without Peter Obi. I am always 100% loyal to a leader wherever I am working or following the leader. At any time I have doubts and can no longer offer 100% loyalty to him, I will respectfully let him know.
”When I joined myself to his campaign, now that I cannot guarantee my support for his future aspirations, I believe I owe it to everyone to let everyone know.
”With this declaration, I am free to embark on negotiation and consultation with every like-minded people to determine the next step in my political journey, which does not include joining APC or PDP for now, but includes, and not limited to the consolidation of Labour Party.
”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.”
Recently, Abure, ever the tactless one, accused the party’s only state governor, Alex Otti of Abia State, of usurping the role of the National Working Committee to convoke a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the Party.
The truth is Otti as well as other major LP stakeholders believe that the tenure of Abure had long expired. The Abia governor is not daunted, he went on to invite important personalities to the gathering which he has rechristened “Stakeholders’ Meeting”. The meeting holds on Wednesday September 4
According to a circular issued by the Senior Special Assistant to Otti on Public Communication, Dodoh Okafor, the people expected to be in attendance are Peter Obi; his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed; members of the Julius Aburi-led NWC, senators, House of Representatives members, representatives of the Nigerian Labour Congress, representatives of the Trade Union Congress, Abia Deputy Governor, former lawmakers who are LP members, and other stakeholders.
Unless the Labour Party gets its act together, I strongly believe that it would not be able to improve on its gains in the next general elections. And if that happens, the party would only have itself to blame.
