….dumps LP

A former spokesman for the Labour Party’s presidential campaign council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has announced his departure from the party.

Okonkwo also parted ways with former LP presidential candidate Peter Obi.

In a statement titled “Political Journey to a Great Nigeria”, which he shared on his social media platforms on Saturday, Okonkwo expressed disappointment over the party’s internal crisis and the failure of its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to address it.

Okonkwo said he was committed to a great Nigeria based on equality, justice and fairness. However, he also said that the current political parties, including the Labour Party, do not have the qualities to lead the country to greatness.

He said: “I am irrevocably committed to a great Nigeria, built on equality, justice and fairness, where every citizen will be free and able to aspire to any position or level in life, regardless of the age-old sentiments built around ethnicity, religion, gender or circumstances of birth.”

“It is clear that the APC or PDP as they are now constituted do not have what it takes to lead us to a great Nigeria. In fact, their collective leadership is trying to paralyze Nigeria as this blessed country is now going backward economically, politically and on every other index, leaving the people with no option but to protest for their survival. They see no hope for the future.

“Unfortunately, according to our constitution, we need a solid political party with a solid grassroots base to be able to take power from these kakistocrats and kleptocrats. We therefore need a strong leader who will be able to build such a party of integrity and character from the grassroots, because ultimately the majority of the people who will populate a government will come from the political party of the leader.”

He compared a party to a political tree that produces the leaders of the government. He stated that a corrupt tree cannot produce good fruits, regardless of the integrity and intentions of the leader.

He blames Nigeria’s problems on a lack of internal democracy within parties, leading to the rise of incompetent and corrupt leaders in government.

He stressed the need for an assertive leader who can build a party with integrity and character from the grassroots.

“We also need a decisive leader who is selfless enough, in boldness and courage, to ensure our victory, when the people vote for such a leader, because these corrupt and incompetent leaders are not willing to conduct free and fair elections and will always grab, wrest and run away with the power of any weak and indecisive leader. Our judiciary has proven itself unequal to the task of preventing the rise of electoral bandits who steal election victories at gunpoint in the public gaze of all.

“I am sincerely looking for such a leader who has the integrity and also the charisma and courage to mobilise the people to sustain the victory if Nigeria votes for such a person. The time for calm is over.”

Okonkwo recalled the struggle to rid Nigeria of corrupt leaders in 2023, only to steal the victory. He expressed scepticism that the judiciary will bring democracy due to abuses by the courts, and urged people to take control of their destiny by voting for the right president and ensuring that person is sworn in.

He also stressed the need for a strong leader who can end the current suffering and prevent these leaders from remaining in power after 2027.

Okonkwo added that the current situation within the Labour Party has motivated him to take a new political direction. He added that many Nigerians, including himself, had high expectations of the Labour Party after the 2023 general elections.

Okonkwo said he believed Peter Obi had the potential to build a strong, honest party that could overthrow corrupt leaders but had to provide the right guidelines so that everyone would adhere to them.

Okonkwo said: “I got my first shock when he publicly declared that he was not promising Nigerians to build a strong Labour Party but to solve Nigeria’s problems. I thought, does this mean that HE Peter Obi is not aware that without a solid party base we are going nowhere politically? However, I continued to defend him, believing that secretly he would still bring the needed solution to LP’s problems. In vain.

“PO also publicly demanded that the Abure-led National Working Committee should organise an all-inclusive convention that would ensure the participation of all Labour Party members in choosing their leaders. This did not happen and surprisingly PO refused to distance itself from the antics and criminal activities of the former NWC as their time had expired.”

Okonkwo said every member of the Labour Party is confused about the future of the party due to lack of leadership from Peter Obi. He admitted that when members look to him for guidance on Obi’s position, he has nothing to say because he is not aware of it.

Okonkwo added that he can no longer speak on behalf of a leader whose position on important issues is unknown to him because he does not know how to manipulate facts.

He added: “I am shocked that PO could not openly support the noble efforts of the unions who founded the Labour Party as a base to fight for the welfare of workers, to the extent that some of them openly say that PO is now LP’s problem. The unions are now in an unfortunate situation where they are fighting against criminals who want to hijack their party, when a simple statement from Peter Obi could have brought the solution. I cannot continue with this ambivalence forever.”

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