By Cross Udo, Abuja
Stakeholders on Monday approved the setting up of a Transition Committee to oversee the affairs of the Labour Party and conduct a national convention within three months
The names of members of the Transition Committee which are from different segments of the society that make up the Labour Party are expected to be announced after the Eid-el-Fitr holidays.
The resolution to set up a Transition Committee for Labour Party was taken at the Stakeholders meeting convened by the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC) Political Commission in Abuja.
*Describe Abure’s convention as inconsequential
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the Stakeholders described the purported national convention that was conducted in Nnewi, Anambra State as inconsequential and null and void.
The communique read, “Owing to the current vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party, the NLC Political Commission consequent on its status in the Constitution of the Labour Party as a registered trustee of the Labour Party, a status that was further buttressed by a Federal High Court consent judgement delivered on March 20, by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, convened this stakeholders meeting to address the leadership void in the Labour Party and to discuss the repositioning of Labour Party to deliver its mandate as the political vehicle for the emancipation of Nigerian workers and people.
Tinubu approves establishment of National Health Fellowship Programme
“Resolutions of the Stakeholders’ Meeting. The Stakeholders Meeting noted the vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party following the expiration of the supposed tenure of the immediate past National Working Committee of the Labour Party.
“The Stakeholders Meeting affirmed and validated the intervention of the Nigeria Labour Congress through her Political Commission as the only body recognised by the Constitution of the Labour Party and Justice Kolawole’s Consent Judgement to act as trustee in a situation of a leadership vacuum as is currently the case in the Labour Party.
“The Stakeholders Meeting following the unanimous adoption of a motion moved to accept the recommendations made in the address by the NLC Political Commission Chairman resolved that to reposition the Labour Party from a mere platform for contesting elections to a viable political vehicle for the emancipation of Nigerian workers and people the following steps must be taken immediately:
“Constitution of a Transition Committee under the leadership of the NLC Political Commission and working with all stakeholders with a mandate to set up structures at national, state, local government, and ward level for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the Labour Party.
“The Stakeholders Meeting passed a vote of no-confidence on the purported Labour Party national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, and regards as inconsequential the leadership that claims to have emerged from the illegal Nnewi Convention.
“That the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all the relevant security organisations in Nigeria are hereby notified and should be officially written immediately to recognise the Transition Committee as the interim leadership of the Labour Party pending the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention of the Labour Party.
“That the Transition Committee once constituted should fully take over the secretariats of the Labour Party all over Nigeria.
“That the Transition Committee shall immediately set up an assets recovery process of all the properties of the Labour Party. The Transition Committee shall also ensure that all the cases of fraud, impersonation, and forgery of government documents pending against a few discredited former officers of the Labour Party are forensically audited and culprits are diligently prosecuted as demanded by the leader of the Labour Party- Mr Peter Obi. Unfortunately, the actions of these few dishonourable characters have splashed mud on the white satin of Labour Party.
“That the Transition Committee shall within three months of its constitution ensure the conduct of an inclusive national convention of the Labour Party starting from ward congresses to local government congresses to state congresses culminating in an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention in Abuja.
“Under the foregoing, the Transition Committee is mandated by the Stakeholders Meeting to begin the process of revalidation of current members of the Labour Party and the registration of new members through the issuance of new membership cards and receipt of membership dues for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the Labour Party. It is expected that this mobilisation drive will yield in the first instance a total membership strength of 10 million
“Labour Party card-carrying members drawn from across all workplaces, marketplaces, professional groups, ethnic and religious organisations that Nigerian workers and people belong to.
“The Stakeholders Meeting recognises, affirms, and commends the support of critical stakeholders in the Labour Party for their continued support and faith in Labour Party. We promise that your steadfast solidarity will surely count!
“Finally, we reiterate that the Labour Party is a Party for all Nigerians regardless of ethnic, religious, regional, social and economic orientation or status.”
The communique was signed by Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku, for: Chairman, NLC Political Commission, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, former President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Sylvester O.Z. Ejiofor Chairman, Board of Trustees, Labour Party and Engr. Gambo Daniel Balarabe National Coordinator.
Others were, Dr. Moses Paul (Mo) Coordinator, Obidient Movement, Chief Yohana Yilpwan Margif Labour Party Plateau State Governorship Candidate, Dr. Kingsley Oghogho Okundaye Coordinator, LPPMC, Hon. Jonathan Asake Kaduna State Labour Party Governorship Candidate and Barr. Ihekwoaba Paul, for Disabled Persons in Labour Party.
*Obi calls for setting up of Reconciliation C’ttee to handle all litigation
The Presidential candidate of the LP in the February 25, 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi has called for the setting up of a Reconciliation Committee to resolve all litigations pending in court from aggrieved members to have a united political party.
The committee, he canvassed would work very seriously in reconciling all legal issues and eliminating them before anything so that it could give easy access to every person that is contesting any position under the party’s platform.
Obi also maintained his position that anyone that wishes to be addressed as his/her Excellency, must be a product of an excellent process.
Speaking on Monday at the NLC Political Commission in Abuja, the former Anambra State governor said that the proposed reconciliation committee should reach out to every political stakeholder, adding that nobody should be tagged as an enemy in the party.
Obi, who was represented by Tanko Yunusa, was of the view that the enemies of Nigeria are outside the Labour Party, stressing that if members come together, they could be able to overcome the enemies of the country.
Yunusa tendered the apologies to Obi for not being physically present at the meeting that had in attendance various stakeholders from across the country.
The 2023 Labour Party Presidential Campaign spokesman explained that Obi had booked an appointment to travel out of the country to address a World Symposium at Harvard University, adding that it was because of the importance he attached to anything that has to do with peaceful reconciliation that made the party leader delegate him (Yunusa), to speak at the meeting.
On the crisis in the party, he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, you are aware that His Excellency has been in every issue, he has intervened in every subject that has to do with peaceful reconciliation in the Labour Party.
“This he has done not by saying it, he has practicalised it with action. He has had several meetings with the members of the Federal House of Representatives, various meetings with the Senators, he has meetings with the Labour Party itself, and all other stakeholders.
“You are also aware that he has been conducting some tours around the country to celebrate with our brothers and sisters in the month of Ramadan and the month of Lent. We just came back from Gombe, Bauchi, Kaduna, and then I’m here all in the area of trying to find a lasting solution to our general problem as a country.
“And so, His Excellency said I should say here that he’s calling for peace and peaceful resolution of all contending issues. It is only when you have peace that you can be able to even vie for any position whatsoever. So without a peaceful reconciliation, we will continue to wallow in these particular challenges up and down.
“So he recalls and requests strongly that there should be a peaceful resolution of all contending issues. Possibly, there should be two committees, you agree with me, that there are various litigation hanging in and out, known and unknown, on the Labour Party and that will not give you a straight and easy passageway to the Constitution to get to the destination of reclaiming Nigeria.
“So, one of the particular committees should look very seriously in reconciling all legal issues and eliminating them before anything so that it could give a very easy access to every person that is contesting under the Labour Party, even in him.
“Two, the reconciliation should reach out to every political stakeholder. There is no enemy in the Labour Party. We can also say the enemies of Nigeria are outside the Labour Party. If we come together, we can be able to overcome the enemies of Nigeria who are outside the Labour Party. The Labour Party should be seen as one and not a different group. A group that belongs to different interests.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you also recall that His Excellency was also saying that he is not desperate to be the President of Nigeria, but he is desperate to see Nigeria work. And if Nigeria is to work, it starts from this reconciliation movement that this particular committee is working on. The Labour Party has already initiated.
“Finally, there is a particular word he always also says. He says he who seeks to be called an Excellency must come through an excellent way.”
