- Former Presidential Aide Laolu Akande urges key figures in the Labour Party to collaborate and address current challenges
- Akande emphasizes resolving ownership disputes promptly to prevent the party’s decline and prioritize the interests of Nigerians over personal agendas
Former Presidential Aide, Mr. Laolu Akande, has called for concerted efforts from key figures within the Labour Party to salvage the party from its current challenges under the leadership of Mr. Julius Abure.
In an interview on Channels TV’s Noon Politics, Akande emphasized the need for collaboration among the Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, Abia State Governor, Mr. Alex Otti, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to steer the party back on course.
“I think the leadership of the Labour Party as it is presently constituted doesn’t seem to understand the role that Labour Party has come to play in the development of the democratic space in Nigeria.”
“Labour Party showed during the last election that it is still very possible for people to be mobilized. People that are otherwise not impressed by the two dominant parties, Labour Party has shown that those people can still be brought in to the space, into the conversation. It is a major dynamic.
” Now, if Mr Abure and his friends understand this, they will not put their interests ahead of those of the Nigerian people”.
He said, “It is quite a big disappointment that the Labour Party is showing itself to be as disorganized, as uninspiring as the other major parties that it showed the whole world that they can give a run for their money. This is just a very heartbreaking thing that is going on in the Labour Party. And I hope that the voices of Mr Peter Obi and Governor Otti will prevail and the voices of the Labour leadership.
“Mr Abure has done a very poor job in articulating whatever may be the reasons for his current behavior”, Akande said.
The failure to effectively manage the challenges facing the Labour Party, Akande cautioned, could disillusion its supporters and erode the excitement surrounding the party.
Despite prevailing against what some believe to be the popular sentiment among party leaders, Mr. Abure secured another term as chairman, with key figures like Obi, Otti, and others notably absent from the convention where his reelection took place in Nnewi, Anambra State.