- Akin Osuntokun proposes the next Labour Party chairman to be from the North for ethno-religious balance, given Peter Obi’s leadership
- He suggests distinguishing the party from mainstream ones like APC and PDP, emphasizing the need for credibility
Osuntokun made this recommendation during a discussion on Arise TV, highlighting the need for ethno-religious balance within the party. He emphasized that since the current presidential candidate and party leader, Peter Obi, is from the South, it would be appropriate for a Northern Nigerian to assume the role of chairman.
In his analysis, Osuntokun drew attention to the similarities between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding composition and ideology. He argued that for the Labour Party to distinguish itself, it must adopt strategies that set it apart from the mainstream parties.
He said, “People join parties as it suits them. That’s why the rivalry between APC and PDP is very fluid. The people in APC, at least about 60 to 70 per cent of them, were from PDP.
“So, you can imagine. Those are the people who now go to a party that is called “progressive”. So party boundaries in Nigeria is more or less meaningless.
“What we are looking for is credibility. A leader with vision. That’s why I’ve always held that there should be room for independent candidacy in our constitution so aspiring presidential candidates would not be compelled to join any party.
“Most of these parties are special-purpose vehicles for those stranded to come and use the platforms to vie for offices. And of course, it’s at a cost. A monetary cost.
“But I think now that the presidential candidate of the Labor Party, that’s the leader of the party, is from the south.
“Now, if we believe in the logic of ethno-religious balance and what we call power shift, I think that the party’s chairman this time should come from the North.”