"Peter Obi Should Have Been WiserÔÇØ - Labour Party Chieftain Criticizes Recent Party Crisis
Thompson Nsisongabasi
Sep 11, 2024
"Peter Obi should have been wiserÔÇØ - Labour Party deputy chair speaks on party's crisis
Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Ayo Olorunfemi, has voiced his frustration over recent developments in the party, particularly a meeting convened by Abia State Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia.
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The expanded stakeholders meeting, where former Minister of Finance Nenadi Usman was announced as chairperson of a caretaker committee, has been labelled unconstitutional by Olurunfemi.
Speaking in an interview with Nigerian Tribune, he condemned the gathering, stating that the meeting had no legal standing and further deepened the crisis facing the party.
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His words: "The meeting is just a drama, or at best, I can describe it as a mock exam. The word 'stakeholder' cannot be found in the party's constitution.
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"What you will find in the constitution are organs of the party, and no organ empowers any governor to convene meetings, not even in his ward. The chairperson at the ward level is responsible for such actions.ÔÇØ
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He expressed disappointment that the meeting did not focus on finding solutions to the challenges facing the party but rather worsened the situation by announcing leadership changes without proper procedure.
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According to Olorunfemi, the act of bypassing the established party structure is a clear violation of the Labour Party's constitution.
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"They did not recommend any solutions but instead created more problems. If they were true leaders, they would have approached the conflict in a way that united the party rather than further dividing it,ÔÇØ he said.
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When asked if the decision to announce a new leader exacerbated the issues in the party, Olorunfemi agreed, saying it exposed those working behind the scenes to destabilize the Labour Party.
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He criticized the role of Governor Alex Otti in calling the meeting, stating that only the party's National Executive Council (NEC) has the power to make such decisions.
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He said: "Assuming, without conceding, that the tenure of our National Working Committee (NWC) has ended, it is not within Governor Otti's rights to summon a meeting.
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"Only the NEC can do that, and even if there was an expired tenure, it must still follow legal processes.ÔÇØ
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Olorunfemi also alluded to the possibility of some elected politicians leaving the Labour Party amid the crisis.
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However, he made it clear that those who choose to jump ship are free to do so, adding that the party has a long-term vision for Nigeria.
"If they want to go to PDP, they can. We were here before they came, and we will be here after they leave.
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"The future of the Labour Party lies in integrity, and we are already working on bringing a candidate who will resonate with the Nigerian people,ÔÇØ he added.
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Olorunfemi hinted at potential sanctions for those violating the party's constitution, including suspensions for members involved in the unauthorized gathering.
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However, he clarified that many of those present at the Umuahia meeting do not hold official positions in the Labour Party's hierarchy.
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"Those who attended the meeting were not executive members of the party. They were former candidates, not officeholders. No unit or ward-level officials were part of it,ÔÇØ he emphasized.
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He singled out Senator Victor Umeh as the chief planner of the meeting and expressed regret that Peter Obi, the party's 2023 presidential candidate, had become entangled in the conflict.
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"Unfortunately, the likes of Peter Obi, who should have been wiser, fell into their plot,ÔÇØ Olorunfemi said.
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— Thompson Nsisongabasi