Peter Obi’s Media Team, Labour Party Clash Over ‘Visit’ To Julius Abure

The campaign team of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi clarified that his recent visit to the party’s secretariat in Abuja was aimed at reconciliation, not endorsement, contrary to some media reports.

This clarification was made by Obi’s campaign spokesman, Yunusa Tanko, in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.

The visit of the former Anambra governor, along with his supporters, to the Labour Party leadership at the national secretariat on Tuesday had been widely reported in the media.

Some reports had framed the visit as an endorsement of the current party leadership and the National Working Committee (NWC) members, especially after a contentious national convention that saw them return to office.

Tanko refuted these reports, emphasising that the visit was intended to foster reconciliation within the party.

“Obi’s visit to Labour Party headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday was a reconciliatory move not to endorse any group interest in the party,” Tanko stated.

He reiterated that Obi’s focus was on uniting the party and ensuring that all members felt included and supported.

Tanko further noted that the visit was part of a broader consultation effort by Obi to achieve peace within the Labour Party.

This included a meeting with the political arms of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday, as Obi continued his quest to unify the party.

“Obi’s visit to Labour Party headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday was a reconciliatory move not to endorse any group interest in the party.

“Obi had repeatedly maintained that his interest was to carry everybody along into one strong family and not to endorse anyone’s interests.

“The visit was part of the consultations Obi has been embarking on in search of peace in the party. In line with this, he also met with the political arm of the NLC and TUC on Wednesday in continuation of his search for peace in the party.

“At his meeting with the workers’ union, the leadership of the NLC/TUC political commission led by comrade Titus Amba and comrade Chris Uyot was also disposed to peace in the party.

“He clearly made the point that the party needed to reconcile all its various positions in a peaceful atmosphere to have a united house that should be all-inclusive.

“He thanked the leadership of the political commission for their understanding and expressed hope for a good working relationship very shortly.

The LP standard bearer also plans to meet with other critical stakeholders like the Obidient to have an all-inclusive political family with a common dream of rescuing Nigeria.”

The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been called to a statement issued by the spokesperson to our National Leader, Peter Obi titled, ‘Obi visits to LP, Reconciliatory, not endorsement…’ Dr. Tanko Yinusa wherein he tried to twist the well intentioned visit of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate on the leadership of the party.

As a party we are pleased that our leader has chosen to reconcile all aggrieved members and stakeholders of the party. This noble step taken by Mr. Obi is in line with the call made by the Labour Party’s National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure during his maiden press conference last week titled ‘Triumphant Resumption of Abure led NWC’ wherein he pleaded with all the warring parties including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to sheath their swords and join in the rebuilding process in the party.

Peter Obi’s visit and speech on Tuesday during the FCT solidarity rally has been variedly described in some quarters as an endorsement on the Abure leadership being his very first visit after the successful National Convention of the party held in March. But to us as a party we cherish this visit on whatever nomenclature as a positive wind blowing on the party. We believe that very soon, the reconciliatory efforts will be consummated and metamorphose into a political force that will usher in a government that will liberate Nigerians from the shackles of maladministration we are presently facing in the country.

Finally, we urge the NLC and its Political Commission to understand that we are not the foe, and to see us as an ally in the battle to rescue Nigeria. They should emulate the Trade Union Congress, (TUC) which has shown greater understanding and willingness to partner with the Labour Party in our efforts to make a new Nigeria possible.

SIGN

Obiora Ifoh
National Publicity Secretary
Labour Party

22-05-2024