TheCable

The Labour Party (LP) has told Joe Ajaero to resign as president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) if he is so desperate to succeed Julius Abure as chairman of the party.

‘ABURE RUNNING LP LIKE SOLE ADMINISTRATOR’

On Friday, in a statement titled: “A misadventure in political mischief, mismanagement and misdemeanor gone too far” the NLC alleged that Abure is running the affairs of the LP as a sole administrator.

The NLC also passed a vote of no confidence on Abure and called for his resignation as LP chairman.

“The leadership of the NLC passes a vote of no confidence on Mr. Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party,” the NLC said.

“We demand his resignation immediately and we demand the constitution of a caretaker transition committee to organise a legitimate and all-inclusive national convention of the Labour Party.”

‘AJAERO SHOULD RESIGN FROM NLC IF HE’S DESPERATE TO SUCCEED ABURE’

In a statement issued on Saturday by Obiora Ifoh, national publicity secretary of the party, the LP asked the NLC president to resign and throw his hat in the ring when it is time for the national convention of the party, if he is desperate to succeed Abure.

The LP also said the comments by NLC did not come as a surprise.

“The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to a Press Release titled ‘A misadventure in political mischief, mismanagement and misdemeanor gone too far’ written by the NLC’s Political Commission as an agent of the Nigeria Labour Congress,” the statement reads.

“The NLC letter did not come to us as a surprise or a shock, it was long expected before now, having known that the NLC was going to engage itself on this misadventure.

“At this point, the leadership of the party wants to ask the NLC, what exactly do they want? If Joe Ajaero is interested in the leadership of the party, he is therefore advised to resign as the President of the NLC and join in the contest for the National Chairmanship of the party that is scheduled for the convention on the 27th of March, 2024.

“We must note that undue interference by the Nigeria Labour Congress on the affairs of the party has become worrisome and it has become needful to emphasise here the distinction that the Labour Party has a life of its own different from that of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

“In fact, the 1999 Constitution states clearly that once a political party is registered, it has a life of its own whereby it can run its own affairs without any interference.

“It will shock Nigerians to know that members and officials of the NLC are not even card carrying members of the Labour Party. All over the country, NLC members have been found to be supporting either the APC or the PDP.”

‘IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR US TO FIGHT’

The LP asked Ajaero to emulate past leaders of the NLC and also learn from other democracies across the world on how labour movements are giving their support to labour parties.

“We equally want to advise Joe Ajero to emulate leadership of Ayuba Waba, Olaleye Quadri and Osifo in working closely with the party,” the statement added.

“We therefore urge the NLC to go and learn from other developing democracies across the world, how the Labour movements have given support to Labour Parties across the world in Australia, Brazil amongst others who have captured power in their countries.

“There is need for us to come together and collectively fight the ruling class that has held the nation down for so long and has impoverished the nation. It makes no sense for us to be fighting ourselves.

“We have consulted with our stakeholders and the consultation is ongoing and we will continue to consult until the March 27, when the new leadership of the party will emerge.

“We have advised the NLC before now that party politics is played at the Ward level and not at the National level.

“If NLC is interested in taking the leadership of the party, they should go and engage in the mass mobilisation of its members to join the party at the grassroot.”