FORMER governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, on Monday expectedly emerged as the presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party, the political platform of the Nigerian working class, and alleged to be owned by the country’s two labour centres, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).
Obi joined the Labour Party on Friday, May 27, 2022 and made it public via a tweet.
At the presidential primary held at Asaba, Delta State capital, Obi beat Mrs Olushola Emmanuel-Tella who was the only aspirant that refused to step down, after Prof Pat Utomi and 45-year-old Joseph Faduri stepped down for Obi.
Utomi, a professor of political-economics, while announcing his decision to step down, said Obi is a younger aspirant with the capacity to effect the needed change in the Nigerian system.
Obi had on May 25, 2022, in a letter to the National Chairman of PDP, announced his resignation and withdrawal from the PDP and its presidential race. His resignation and withdrawal of his presidential aspiration under the party came after he had been screened to contest in the presidential primaries of the party which held on May 28 and 29 at the MKO Stadium in Abuja.
Obi, who was PDP’s vice presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, attributed his reason for the decision to recent developments within the party which made it practically impossible to continue participating and making constructive contributions.
Labour Party Roars! Says NLC
Meanwhile, the NLC has, in a press release, proclaimed that the Labour Party is roaring across the country following what it described as the daily trooping of “credible, progressive and patriotic politicians, market women, professionals, artisans and the youth of our country” into the party.
In the press release signed by its President Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the NLC, while stating that it has dawned “on reactionary politicians that the Labour Party is fully astir and ready to roar,” also stressed that it “relishes with great gusto the renewed sense of hope sweeping across the country as a rejuvenated Labour Party makes giant political strides all over the country.”
According to the NLC, Labour Party’s readiness “to roar” is indicated by its “engagement with the political process in Nigeria” which is “shaped by issues that are dear to the people of Nigeria especially as contained in the Nigerian Workers Charter of Demands,” which it said “talks about the prioritization of investment in the education and health sectors.”
The press release, entitled; “THE LABOUR PARTY ROARS! The Nigeria Labour Congress Wishes Labour Party a Successful Presidential Primaries in Asaba, Delta State on the 30th of May 2022,” reads in full:
“The Nigeria Labour Congress relishes with great gusto the renewed sense of hope sweeping across the country as a rejuvenated Labour Party makes giant political strides all over the country. It is no longer news that credible, progressive and patriotic politicians, market women, professionals, artisans and the youth of our country are daily trooping to the Labour Party. It is dawning on reactionary politicians that the Labour Party is fully astir and ready to roar.
“The readiness of the Labour Party to roar is proved by the fact that party’s engagement with the political process in Nigeria is shaped by issues that are dear to the people of Nigeria especially as contained in the Nigerian Workers Charter of Demands. Our Charter of Demands talks about the prioritization of investment in the education and health sectors. Our Charter of Demands places premium interest in the security of lives and property as the foundation of socio-economic renaissance.
“We commend and support the leadership of the Labour Party led by Comrade Julius Abure who is a former trade union leader for working with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress to reposition the Labour Party. Millions of Nigerian workers and pensioners are latching on the new vigor and vision of the Labour Party to take ownership of the long-suspended delivery of the Nigeria of our collective dreams.
“Such dreams are epitomized by the success of the Labour Party in different parts of the world. A few days ago, the Labour Party in Australia was overwhelmingly voted into power as Australians yearned for major reforms that would deliver a country that works for all.
“As the Labour Party elects her candidates at the National Convention of the Party in Asaba on Monday, 30th of May 2022, we urge the delegates to only elect candidates who subscribe to Workers Charter of Demands.
“Delegates should be wary of aspirants who only mouth their progressive credentials. Weighty consideration should be given to candidates whose track record demonstrates panache, restraint, integrity and fiscal discipline. We want delegates to elect candidates who are pro-Nigeria and pro-workers and who will unite the country.
“Our ideal candidates must not be looters but patriots who will transform every kobo earned as revenue by Nigeria into valuable projects that elevate the narrative of our national development. Our ideal candidates must leave no one behind particularly educated and non-educated youths. We must restore hope in the future of our youths.
“We enjoin Nigerian youths to continue to identify with the Labour Party and adopt the party fully as their own. The job of unseating and retiring deadwood politicians whose worldview of politics is self-service and nepotism has begun in full earnest. The task will not be easy but just as President Nelson Mandela said: “It appears impossible until it is done”.
“The new Labour Party is the party for workers, pensioners, ordinary Nigerians, the talakawas, the family, papa, mama, ‘pikin’, farmers, market women and men, and small and medium enterprises operators as the party symbolizes a human-centered approach to development.
“The grand train of the Nigerian people and workers roars! The time is Now!! No Sentiments!!! If not Now? When? Yes! We Can!! We Move!!!”
