BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
Kenneth Okonkwo and Peter Obi
More Moles Will Be Exposed –LP
A former spokesperson for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Kenneth Okonkwo has exited the party, citing the inability of the leadership to address internal crisis.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Saturday, Okonkwo noted that he had hoped the LP Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi would build a solid party that would overthrow the kakistocrats and kleptocrats after the 2023 general election but it did not happen.
"After the 2023 general election, Nigerians, including me, had high hopes for the Labour Party. I believed that Peter Obi will seize the momentum and build a solid party of integrity that will have the solid base that we need to overthrow these kakistocrats and kleptocrats,” he said.
"However, I continued in his defence believing he will still privately bring the needed solution to LP problems, (but) to no avail," Okonkwo added.
The former spokesperson said that his decision to dump the party was due to its failure to churn out strategic leaders that could resolve Nigeria’s challenges.
"However, the consequence is that I no longer have the confidence that Peter Obi has what it takes to build a party that can win these kakistocrats and kleptocrats, and above all, he has proved that even if the people vote for him, he doesn’t have what it takes to secure the mandate.
"I cannot continue to speak on behalf of a leader that I do not know his stand on issues of great importance. I simply don’t know how to manipulate facts," he said.
Okonkwo bared his mind on his decision to continue his political journey, adding that he needed a leader with integrity and team spirit.
"It’s in this regard that I have decided to continue my political journey into the great Nigeria of our vision without Peter Obi.
"It’s 100 per cent based on principles and my conviction that I need a more decisive, bold, brave leader with integrity and team spirit who can confront these kakistocrats and kleptocrats head-on," he said.
The former spokesperson pointed out that he would neither join forces with the All Progressives Congress (APC) nor People's Democratic Party (PDP).
"With this declaration, I am free to embark on negotiation and consultation with every like-minded people to determine the next step in my political journey, which does not include joining APC or PDP for now but includes, and is not limited to, consolidation of the Labour Party," he noted.
Labour Party Defends Obi
Reacting, the Labour Party hinted that with Okonkwo's exit, more moles would be exposed and fumigated out of the party.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Mr Obiora Ifo on Sunday in Abuja, he revealed that the party was not shocked to hear Okonkwo's outburst.
He insisted that attacks on Obi would not diminish the trust of Nigerians in his leadership traits.
Ifo, who condemned the party's former members for series of defection, informed that Nigeria does not lack political jesters and jobbers.
"Kenneth Okonkwo's resignation from the Labour Party didn't come to us as a surprise. We also think that his attack on the party's leader, Peter Obi is rather unfortunate. However, we will continue not to dignify him with any response as we understand that his attention craving attitude knows no bound.
"If you recall, recently a former Director General of the party's presidential campaign organisation resigned and rejoined the APC. Only last week, a former deputy Director General of the presidential campaign organisation also resigned and rejoined the APC. Today, it is the turn of Mr. Okonkwo, a former member of APC, who smuggled himself into the presidential campaign, and his destination is already known to us.
"Needless to say that Nigeria is not in want of political jesters and jobbers whose stomach are their gods. Labour Party is not perturbed by his decision to move on and in fact, we wish him well in his future endeavours, whether in acting, law practice, politics or otherwise," he added.
Recognising that some members of LP were planted as moles, the national publicity secretary hinted that the party strongly stands with Obi even in the forthcoming 2027 presidential election.
"We also wish to note here, that the party is aware of a few other persons who are planted as moles, who are presently instigating crisis within the party, and who have unsuccessfully attempted to hijack the party for the use of their paymasters. We urge them to act fast and do the needful before they are exposed and fumigated out of the party.
"Labour Party is keeping to its decision to stand with Peter Obi as its leader and presidential hopeful come 2027 presidential election and we are not apologetical about that position.
"Coordinated attacks from some quarters will not in anyway diminish the trust Nigerians, particularly, the Obidients and youths in Nigeria have in him. We know that with him, a new Nigeria will be possible. Nigerians spoke loudly in 2023 and they will speak even louder come 2027," Ifo concluded.
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