Obi, Otti, other key figures shun Labour Party convention as Abure gets fresh term

Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State; Senator Victor Umeh and other key figures of Labour Party were absent on Wednesday when Julius Abure was reelected chairman of the opposition party.

Seven other National working committee members of the party were reelected at the convention, which held in Nnewi, Anambra State.

14 others NWC members were dropped either for non-performance or having served out the allowable number of years as per the party’s constitution.

One of such officers is Chief Innocent Sunday Okeke(Agumba), the immediate past Asst Nat chairman (South East), who stepped down having served two terms.

Former National Organizing Secretary, Chief Clement Ojukwu, is now the Deputy National Chairman of the party.

Daily Trust reports that the convention that finally held in Anambra was changed for the second time after the party had earlier scheduled it for March 29 in Benin City, Edo State capital.

Meanwhile, a communique at the end of the convention jointly signed by Abure and Umar Farouk Ibrahim, National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, reviewing the state of the nation, said that it is not grabbing power that matters but what you do with it.

“After the 2023 general election, the security situation of the nation has not improved as there is a geometrical increase in numbers of lives lost and the economy has worsened as the standard and conditions of living of the Nigerian populace has continue to deteriorate.

“Inflation is sky rocketing, unemployment rate is high, this has led to massive hunger and poverty in the land. This is a result of the continuous devaluation of the currency and increase in petroleum product prices.

“The convention therefore call on the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to quickly take drastic and proactive steps to save the economy from total collapse to revive the economy and put it on the path of growth and development.
“The Convention in session also advises the President to bring up proactive measures that will encourage indigenous producers so that our Gross Domestic Production can increase and dependency on foreign products should be discouraged,” the communique said.

The party also expressed concern on the renewed insecurity in the country especially Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, and other states, and urged President Tinubu to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians, which is the primary responsibility of the government.
The party also expressed concern on the crises in Gaza and call for an immediate ceasefire and also advises the world powers to proffer an immediate solution to halt the continuous killings of women and children and the destruction of properties.
“The world powers should exercise restraints in the war between Hamas and Israel, and come to a truce to end the killings and destructions. The Convention calls on the United States of America and all those behind the scenes fueling the conflict to come to a truce for a peaceful Middle East,” the party said.