TheCable

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, says he is still a member of the party.

The LP has been hit by crises — ranging from allegations of misappropriation of funds, leadership tussle, to calls for the resignation of the party’s chairman — since last year’s election.

On Wednesday, the LP conducted a controversial national convention in Anambra state which re-elected Julius Abure as its national chairman.

Obi did not attend the convention, fuelling speculations that he may be mulling ditching the LP for another platform.

Speaking at a Spaces session on X (formerly Twitter) organised by Parallel Facts on Friday night, Obi said he is still a member of the LP, noting that he will never engage in anti-party activities.

Speaking on the crisis rocking the party, the former Anambra governor said the focus should be on building a new Nigeria.

He also called for the structuring of the ‘Obidient movement’.

“I am still a member of Labour Party and I don’t and will never do anti-party,” Obi said.

“We will do whatever is possible. As we go along, we will see what happens. Let us remain focused on building a new Nigeria.

“We want the party to work and pursue what we set out to do and that is to change the country. We should not lose that focus and face minor issues that will distract us.

“We promised to build Nigeria, we did not promise to build a new Labour Party.

“It is the standard practice around the world where movements form themselves into blocs and are part of the political process.”

‘IT’S MY NORMAL WAY OF LIFE’

Obi said visiting worship centres and handing out donations at places he visits has always been his way of life long before he joined politics, noting that he is not campaigning.

“I am not campaigning. I have been doing things like this before I got into politics. It is bad that politics in Nigeria is transactional,” Obi said.

‘EVERY STATE SHOULD EMULATE ABIA’

On March 22, Alex Otti, governor of Abia, signed a bill repealing the law that allowed former governors and their deputies to collect pensions.

The law stipulated that former Abia governors and deputies are entitled to 100 percent of the annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor and deputy; their cooks, stewards, drivers, and gardeners are to be paid by the state; and are entitled to three police officers and two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Reacting, Obi commended Otti and called on other state governors to follow suit.

“I have argued against humongous pensions for ex-governors. As governor, I did so too. My reason is simple — people are being owed all over the country, and are being paid as little as N4,000 and N5,000 as pensions,” he said.

“When I left Anambra state, they brought the pension law to me authorising a house for me in Awka, Abuja, or Lagos, similar vehicles as the serving governor to be changed every two or three years plus security, cooks, house helps which I turned down.

“I rejected that law and till today, Anambra has not bought me a sachet of water. The way the country is today, I urge every state to emulate Abia state.”