As leaders and stakeholders of Labour Party (LP) meet in Umuahia, Abia State at an expanded stakeholders’ meeting, some leaders of the party have called for permanent solution to the party’s crisis.

The Acting Chairman of the Political Commission of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, Chairman of Labour Party National Transition Committee (LP-NTC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, Deputy Chairman of the committee Dr Sam Amadi, and Peter Obi 37 Merger Movement (POMM) Dr. babalola Akabashorun, said the future of the party rests on the outcome of the meeting.

Omar stated that the LP-NTC believes that “Our leaders, Mr. Peter Obi and His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, will come out of this stakeholders meeting with what will be impeccable and permanent solutions,” which he added, would “reflect their well-known advocacy for good governance, rule of law and true democracy through commitment to the principles of integrity, justice and corruption-free leadership.”

He regretted that Labour Party lost the presidency and several other states in 2023, not only because of external factors but because Julius Abure led National Working Committee (NWC) at that time, preferred self-enrichment over empowering polling agents and due diligence in assembling relevant documents needed at the tribunals to prosecute the party’s petitions.

“Let’s not lose 2027 again by wrong decisions,” Omar warned.

He expressed the hope that the resolutions to be reached at the Umuahia meeting will bring lasting healing and restoration of the hope and faith of Obidient people who left the party.

“Nigerians of all states, zones, tribes and faiths await decisions of wisdom from the East,” the LP-NTC added.

Prof. Ndubuaku reminded the stakeholders that Labour Party was founded with a specific vision by its founding fathers.

“This vision was and remains to provide a political party for the workers and ordinary masses of Nigeria,” he said.

According to him, citizens of good character and integrity do not have huge money to compete in the other capital intensive political parties where large capital to corrupt the system and buy into power is the norm.

Labour Party, he added, was founded as an alternative political shelter for Nigerians to have a genuine party where ordinary citizens, low income workers and every Nigerian can seek and attain power at the lowest possible cost.

He regretted that “what we have seen for a long time in our dear party is that a few incurably greedy, viciously audacious people banded together and turned the party to their Lake Chad in every election where they fish for whales, with corrupt enrichment of their private pockets as their sole goal.

“They perpetuate this through defrauding and denying genuine candidates for highest bidders, buying and selling of places, mind-bending scandalous forgery of signatures and court affidavits, even the forgery of the signature of a federal court registrar.”

Prof. Ndubuaku told Obi and Otti not to allow Labour Party to sink.

Dr. Akabashorun stated that the rebuilding of Labour Party starts from the Umuahia meeting, and urged Obi and Otti “to pull up your bootstraps, trowel and plumbs for the rebuilding of our Labour Party into the ideal masses haven Nigerians wish to see.”

Akabashorun who is a member Yoruba Study Group for Good Governance (YSGGG), said Nigerians hope that the Umuahia meeting will come out with a resolution that will put Labour Party on the path of victory in future elections. (New Telegraph)

•Peter Obi and Alex Otti