As Nigerians are waiting to see who emerges the flagbearer of each of the 18 registered political parties in the country ahead of the February 2023 Presidential Election, one of the frontline aspirants, Mr. Peter Obi has just pitched his tent with the Labour Party (LP).
Until last week, the former Governor of Anambra state was a member of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and also one of the aspirants tipped to clinch the ticket of PDP at its national convention
in a free, fair and credible primary election.
But Obi resigned his membership of PDP and withdrew from the party’s presidential primary election slated for Abuja over the weekend as he alleged the monetization of the election process and the party treating him unfairly.
However, Obi whose supporters organised a nationwide “One Million Man March” across the country last week Saturday to declare their readiness to support his aspiration to become Nigeria’s next President after President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023, has officially joined the Labour Party.
The former Vice Presidential candidate of PDP in the 2019 Presidential Election had in his letter of resignation from the party stated that the recent developments within PDP made it practically impossible for him to continue participating and making constructive contributions.
Said he: “Our national challenges are deep-seated and require that we each make profound sacrifices towards rescuing our country. My commitment to rescuing Nigeria remains firm, even if the route differs.
Perhaps, Obi who saw the 17 other political parties including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before choosing Labour Party, has found a better route to achieve his presidential aspiration in 2023 should his new party hand him over the party’s flag for the presidential race.
Obi whose 2023 Election mantra is to make Nigeria to become a “Producing Nation” instead of “Consuming Country” may have found an ally in Labour Party which was formed in 2002 as the party for Social Democracy by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
Like the older Labour Party in the United Kingdom (UK) that has been described as an alliance of Social Democrats, Democratic Socialists and Trade Unionists, Obi and Labour Party which sits on the Centre-Left of the political spectrum are “marriage made in Heaven”.
Some of the party’s former notable members since inception are Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the former Governor of Ondo State and the only Labour Party Governor in Nigeria. Former Governor of Oyo State Chief Alao Akala, Adams Oshiomole, the former Governor of Edo State and suspended Chairman of the All Progressives Congress and the LP candidate for Delta State Guber race, Great Ogboru, etc.
Infact, in April 2007, Adams Oshiomhole ran for Governor of Edo State under the Action Congress (AC) party with which his Labour Party had entered into a strategic alliance to defeat Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who was earlier declared the winner before an Election Tribunal in Benin City awarded
Oshiomhole victory.
With Obi whose track records of prudent management of Anambra state resources for eight years as Governor and his successful running of small businesses into conglomerates, in Labour Party, there is no better time for Nigerians to try another political party in the centre by voting massively for LP in the 2023 General Elections.
The soft-spoken Boardroom guru cum political engineer who started life as a trader, being born into trading family before venturing into the corporate world, has held leadership positions in some private establishments.
Some of the companies he served includes Next International Nigeria Ltd, Abuja and Enugu.
He also served as Chairman and Director of Guardian Express Mortgage Bank Ltd, Guardian Express Bank Plc, Future View Securities Ltd, Paymaster Nigeria Ltd, Chams Nigeria Ltd, Data Corp Ltd and Card Centre Ltd. He was the youngest chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc.
Such is the pedigree Obi possesses even as he is one of the few Onitsha Market
Traders Association (OMATA) trainee who has acquired intimidating Degrees and Certificate from the best higher institutions in Nigeria and abroad.
Obi attended prestigious institutions including the Christ the King College (CKC) Onitsha; University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); Lagos Business School, where he did his Chief Executive Program and Harvard Business School, Boston, USA, where he did two programs.
He later proceeded to London School of Economics, UK; Columbia Southwest School, New York, USA and Institute for Management Development, Switzerland, where he also got two Certificates in Senior Executive Program and Chief Executive Officers Program.
Obi also went to Kellogg Graduate School of Management, USA; Oxford University Business School and Cambridge University, George Business School among others.
Against this background, it will be difficult to found any other presidential aspirant in Nigeria today who can match Obi’s pedigree even in knowledge and character hence the Labour Party must grab this opportunity to produce the next President of Nigeria in 2023 by first making Obi its Sole Candidate for the presidential primary election.
Secondly, Labour Party should not wait too long before mobilising the entire labour force to become Obi’s Campaign Managers at no cost at all because labour has the population to bring out the votes which will take Obi over the Finish Line in 2023.
For this reason, the leadership of LP Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by Comrade Ayuba Wabba should meet immediately to map out strategies how Labour Party should play a vital role in Obi’s fight to rescue Nigeria from economic woes and insecurity.
Also, let every suffering Nigerian in every sphere- Farmers, Artisans, Traders, Students, Teachers in Primary, Secondary, Tertiary schools; Business men/women and indeed, Organised Labour which boasts of Millions of members across Nigeria arise to support Mr. Peter Obi Presidency.
Comrade Wabba should rise up and rally NLC and its affiliates, including the Trade Union Council (TUC) and the allied unions like ASUU, ASUP, NANS, NUPENG, NBA, NMA, Nurses Association, Road Transport Workers
Union, Musicians and Film Actors bodies- PMAN and Nollywood, to join forces with Obi to rescue Nigeria from greedy politicians who careless about the suffering masses.
Arise Oh Yee Nigerians who want to see Corruption-free Nigeria and who want to see Nigeria as a Producing Nation instead of Consuming Country to support Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party to rescue our nation from Political Undertakers who have spent Billions of Dollars and Pound Sterling on Party Delegates to buy their ways to obtain their parties tickets.
Let All Compatriots
Arise To Help Labour Party beat APC and PDP in 2023.
I so canvas.
Harry Awurumibe is an Abuja-based Veteran Journalist
