Our reporter/ A spokesperson for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Kenneth Okonkwo, on Sunday criticised the party’s presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi over his approach to party issues.
Okonkwo, who joined the LP in 2022 from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) accused the former Anambra State governor of failing to resolve the internal crisis rocking the party.
According to him, Obi did not do enough to build the party and solve the party’s leadership crisis.
Okonkwo expressed his frustrations in a letter he posted on X ( formerly known as Twitter).
“I received my first shock when he publicly declared that he didn’t promise Nigerians to build a strong Labour Party, but to solve Nigeria’s problems. I was like, does it mean HE Peter Obi is not aware that without a solid party base, we are heading to nowhere politically? However, I continued in his defence believing he will still privately bring the needed solution to LP problems, to no avail, he wrote.
“PO also publicly demanded that the Abure- led National Working Committee must organise an all inclusive convention that will guarantee the participation of all members of the Labour Party in the choice of their leaders. This didn’t happen, and surprisingly, PO refused to disassociate himself from the shenanigans and criminal activities of the former NWC as their time has expired,” Mr Okonkwo said.
He called out Obi as a weak leader who does not take a stand on important issues.
“Every member of Labour Party is confused today as to the future of Labour Party because of lack of leadership from PO over the party, and unfortunately, when they look up to me to tell them about PO’s standpoint, I sincerely have nothing to tell them because I don’t know myself. I cannot continue to speak on behalf of a leader that I do not know his stand on issues of great importance. I simply don’t know how to manipulate facts,” the actor turned politician further stated.
He said he was shocked that Obi couldn’t openly support the noble efforts of the labour unions who founded the Labour Party as a base to fight for the welfare of workers to the extent that some of them were openly saying that Mr Obi was now the problem of LP.
“The labour unions now have the unfortunate situation where they are fighting criminals who want to hijack their party when an ordinary statement from PO would have brought the solution. I cannot continue with this ambivalence forever, he said.
I am always 100% loyal to a leader whenever I am working or following the leader. At anytime I have doubts within me that I can no longer offer 100% loyalty to him, I will respectfully let everyone know. When I joined myself to his campaign, I made it public, now that I cannot guarantee my support for his future political aspirations, I believe I owe it to everyone to let everyone know.’’
He added that there was absolutely nothing personal with his decision to adjust his relationship with Obi. Notingthat, ”It’s 100% based on principles and my conviction that I need a more decisive, bold, brave leader with integrity and team spirit who can confront these kakistocrats and kleptocrats head on. I will continue to respect him and cherish the periods we worked together.’’
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