The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has clarified that his visit to Labour Party headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday was a reconciliatory move not to endorse any group interest in the party.
Spokesperson of the Presidential Candidate, Yunusa Tanko in a statement on Tuesday said that Obi had repeatedly maintained that his interest was to carry everybody along into one strong family and not to endorse anyone’s interest.
“The visit was part of the consultations Obi has been embarking on in search of peace in the party.
“In line with this, he also met with the political arm of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Trade Union Congress, and TUC, on Wednesday in continuation of his search for peace in the party.
“At his meeting with the workers’ union, the leadership of the NLC/TUC political commission led by comrade Titus Amba and comrade Chris Uyot was also disposed to peace in the party.
“At the meeting, he clearly made the point that the party needed to reconcile all various positions in a peaceful atmosphere to have a united house that should be all-inclusive” he said
According to Tanko, Obi thanked the leadership of the political commission for their understanding and expressed the hope for a good working relationship.
He said that the LP standards bearer also plans to meet with other critical stakeholders like the Obidient to have an all-inclusive political family with a common dream of rescuing Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Labour party has reacted to a statement issued by the spokesperson titled, ‘Obi visits to LP, Reconciliatory, not endorsement where Tanko Yinusa tried to twist the well intentioned visit of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate on the leadership of the party.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party said,
“As a party we are pleased that our leader has chosen to reconcile all aggrieved members and stakeholders of the party. This noble step taken by Mr. Obi is in line with the call made by the Labour Party’s National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure during his maiden press conference last week titled ‘Triumphant Resumption of Abure led NWC’ wherein he pleaded with all the warring parties including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to sheath their swords and join in the rebuilding process in the party.
“Peter Obi’s visit and speech on Tuesday during the FCT solidarity rally has been variedly described in some quarters as an endorsement on the Abure leadership being his very first visit after the successful National Convention of the party held in March. But to us as a party we cherish this visit on whatever nomenclature as a positive wind blowing on the party. We believe that very soon, the reconciliatory efforts will be consummated and metamorphose into a political force that will usher in a government that will liberate Nigerians from the shackles of maladministration we are presently facing in the country.
“Finally, we urge the NLC and its Political Commission to understand that we are not the foe, and to see us as an ally in the battle to rescue Nigeria. They should emulate the Trade Union Congress, (TUC) which has shown greater understanding and willingness to partner with the Labour Party in our efforts to make a new Nigeria possible”.
