TheCable

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says the Labour Party (LP) needs to intensify efforts in mobilising Nigerians to defeat other parties in the 2023 polls.

Falana advised Peter Obi, LP presidential candidate, to stop visiting those who destroyed the country to seek their support.

Speaking during the LP national retreat on Monday in Abuja, Falana said the party won’t be able to seize power by “adopting the method of the usual”.

“Let me challenge the leaders of the Labour Party. I beg you. You are not going to get power in Nigeria by adopting the method of the usual. If you want to mobilise the Nigerian people, you must go beyond visiting those who destroy Nigeria,” Falana said.

“From today, your candidate must go to the offices of all the trade unions in Nigeria. The offices of women organisations, youth organisations, because the people you are competing with have acquired, albeit illegally, unbelievable sums of money.

“What do they want to do? They want to bribe voters because they have weaponised poverty. Therefore, you cannot operate on the same terrain.

“The president of NLC and TUC have made a point that you have the largest structures in Nigeria. Please go out from today to revitalise those structures so that these guys can know that it can never be business as usual again. Time is on our side. Oh, yes. Nigerians have lost faith in them.”

Falana also mocked those seeking to take over power from President Muhammadu Buhari, describing them as “tired”.

“They are now running from pillar to post. When they say you have no structure, tell them; the people are the structures of power. The people are the centres of power. Power is lying on the street in Nigeria once again,” he said.

“The man in Aso Rock says ‘I am tired I want to go home’. Those who want to take over power from him are also tired. Therefore, power is lying on the streets of Nigeria, are you ready to pick it?”