Former presidential aide Laolu Akande has asked the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi; and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to step into the crisis between the party and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Akande, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics on Wednesday, said Julius Abure has done poorly as LP’s National Chairman.
The social commentator urged Abure to put aside personal interest and allow national interest to prevail in his decisions.
Akande said, “The leadership of the Labour Party as it is presently constituted doesn’t seem to understand the role that Labour Party has come to play in the development of the democratic space in Nigeria.
“Labout Party showed during the last election that it is still very possible for people to be mobilised. People that are otherwise not impressed by the two dominant parties, Labour Party has shown during the last election that those people can still be brought into the space, into the conversation.
“If Mr Abure and his friends understand this, they will put the interests of the Nigerian people ahead of whatever may be their own gains.
“It is quite a big disappointment that the Labour Party is showing itself to be as disorganised, as uninspiring as the other major parties that it showed the whole world that they can give a run for their money. This is just a very heartbreaking thing that is going on in the Labour Party. And I hope that the voices of Mr Peter Obi and Governor Otti will prevail and the voices of the Labour leadership.”
Akande faulted Abure’s handling of the challenges facing the party, noting that the LP Chairman has failed to provide robust response to issues raised by the NLC and other stakeholders about the party’s finances and related matters.
He warned that without effective management, the excitement around the Labour Party would dissipate, leaving its supporters disillusioned.
