Tag: LP

I’m not working for Peter Obi – Kachikwu

Dumebi Kachikwu, Presidential Candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) has denied endorsing Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), for the Feb. 25 presidential election.

Kachikwu said this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.

“I am not out of the race, I’m running this race to the end and if anyone expects that they would hear me before the elections say that I as a candidate am endorsing, I’m aligning or I’m pushing for another candidate, that persons is making a solid mistake,” he said

Kachikwu said that there was no difference between Obi, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Tinubu.

“I believe there is no difference between Labour Candidate Peter Obi, because he represents no difference from either Bola Tinubu or Atiku Abubakar.

“Peter Obi has been in office as a governor for eight years, having been governor of a state for eight years, that state happens to be one of the hot beds of the problems of the South East today.

“And its people seem to be leaving Nigeria believing that Nigeria has nothing for them, so I believe that if Anambra had worked and if Obi had performed in Anambra that place would have been a place where the Igbo’s would rally around.

“A place they would go to and use as a building point for the rest of the South East, ” he said.
Kachikwu said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had wanted him to work with Obi, saying that he turned down the request.

“Several months ago in the aftermath of my emergence as the Presidential Candidate of the party, President Olusegun Obasanjo sent for me.

“In that meeting what he said to me was that having listened to my speech at the party primaries, he now believed that there are two candidates on the race that he should watch for.

“And that he would like me to look at how I and the Labour candidate can work together or rub our races and at the appropriate time we would see what happens.

“For him what was important was doing everything possible to ensure the unity of Nigeria and ensuring that Nigeria continues as a united country, but my response then still remains my response now,” he said.

February 18, 2023
2023: PDP, APC, LP reel out security plans ahead of polls

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Labour Party (LP), on Thursday, reeled out their security plans to Nigerians ahead of the Feb. 25, Presidential Election.

The parties disclosed the plans at the “Youth Presidential Debate” organised by Atiku Youth World Outreach, which was held in Abuja.

The debate was tagged “Beyond Politics: For Love of Country”.

Mr Onoja Ilemona, who spoke on behalf of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, said that if elected, the party would tackle the insecurity that had continued to bedevil the country.

Ilemona said: “Our candidate has a five-step plan to improve the security of Nigeria. These plans include increasing the number of our gallant men and women because they are insufficient currently.

“We will improve inter-agency cohesion, combat the free flow of light weapons and ammunition, and ensure better funding of security agencies.”

Ilemona further called on the electorate to vote for Atiku who he described as a man who would emancipate Nigeria from poverty.

“Atiku is the only candidate who has been involved in wealth creation, wealth generation and job creation at the national level,” he declared.

He said that the administration would grow the economy by improving private sector participation in business.

“The Nigerian economy has been stagnant over the course of time because there is no enough private sector participation.

“Government has no business in business. Leave the business to private sector participants.

“This will curb government waste and create private sector creativity and ingenuity in business.”

For Mr Olufemi Ibitoye, spokesperson for the Presidential Candidate of the APC, Sen. Bola Tinubu, the administration would deploy the use of effective technology in securing the country.

“Information is key in fighting insecurity,” Ibitoye said.

He also said that the party would ensure that the National Assembly amended the Criminal Justice System Act, to tackle cases of injustice.

According to Ibitoye, Tinubu is the best candidate for the country, adding that; “we cannot leave Nigeria to someone who has got no experience at the high level.

“Tinubu is someone who will get the job done. He has done it before, and he will do it again. He is the architect of modern Lagos. He will build the economic bridge of Nigeria,” he said.

LP representative, Mr Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, said that failure of leadership was the cause of insecurity in the country.

To that effect, he said that a sustainable way of fighting insecurity was ending poverty.

“Peter Obi will bring fair leadership where everybody will feel loved. This is what is needed to solve insecurity.

“Our candidate, Obi, will ensure that the youths are employed which will reduce the high rate of poverty.”

He also said that the Nigerian Police was the most underpaid security agency in the country, noting that the LP would work towards better remuneration for the police.

Ifaluyi-Isibor further said that Nigeria’s inability, as a nation, to elect and select good leaders that understood the problems and had solutions, “has been our greatest dilemma.

“This is why we have been below our economic and moral level; we have people in authority that have no idea how to govern.

“But there is a new hope today in Nigeria; there is one man (Peter Obi), who has engineered a regeneration of consciousness in the mind of the people.

“He has given us a ray of hope that tomorrow will be better than today. There is a redemption song in the hearts of Nigerians circled around Obi.

“He has demonstrated unparalleled competence,” Ifaluyi-Isibor said.

Earlier, Patron of Atiku Youth World Outreach, Maryam Atiku, had said that the debate was organised to bring youths from the different parties to exchange ideas towards a better future for Nigeria.

“This is the first time such a forum is organised, where young persons come together to say no to violence by the political parties. That what the country needs is peace.”

Also speaking, the Director-General, Media and Strategic Planning of the Outreach, Mr Freedom Atsepoyi, said the aim of the outreach was to chart a new course for Nigerian politics.

Atsepoyi said: “We are here as youths to show love among the various parties’ supporters, and to say that ‘election is not war.”

NAN

February 16, 2023
LP reacts to its southwest members dissolving into APC

Labour Party on Monday refuted claims that its southwest members have dissolved into the All Progressives Congress (APC) saying it was fake news.

Mr. Akin Osuntokun, the Director-General, Obi-Datti presidential campaign said this while interacting with newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

Osuntokun expressed worry over the spate of fake news against LP and urged its supporters to always check with the party to clarify any information.

“There is a report in newspapers today that the Labour Party in the southwest announced its dissolution into the APC.

“One thing that bothers me around this period is that there actually people really choosing to accept some things that are presumably and on their face value.

“Of all the names purportedly listed as the members dissolving into APC are unknown to us therefore the press should not encourage them in these kind of missions,” he said.

Osuntokun said that the report mentioned the title of the leader of the defectors as the chairman of the LP in the southwest zone.

He said that the title was unknown to the party as it only had Zonal Coordinators of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) saying there nothing like chairman LP southwest.

He added that the PCC was being impersonated and there were fictitious press releases in its name.
“One of these releases purported signed by me revealed me engaging in personal attacks and incriminations about Lagos on account that they did not want to receive our presidential candidate.

“This is a total fabrication and it is all over the social media.

“Some people have even started to abuse me before they even hear my own side of the story,” he said.

Osuntokun said that all these including attacks on the party’s members revealed the importance of LP in the presidential race ahead.

He appeal to Nigerians to at least check with the party and encouraged the media to verify reports before publishing them.

February 14, 2023
Forget Nigeria if Obi does not become president in 2023 – Adebanjo

National leader of Afenifere, a pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo has said that everyone should forget about Nigeria if Labour Party presidential candidate, Obi does not win the 2023 election.

He noted that Southerners would not fall for the plot by the Northern Elders Forum to impose another northerner on Nigerians.

Adebanjo said this on Saturday at the venue of the Obi-Datti rally at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos.

He said, “If Obi does not become president in 2023, then we may as well forget Nigeria. The Northern elders now say I want to impose Obi on them. They want to impose a Northerner on us and we are saying No!”.

“We are not here to sing and dance like the other parties. We must talk about how best to make this country work. We should be talking about how to remove area boys from the streets and provide jobs for them”.

February 11, 2023
Peter Obi reacts as hoodlums attack LP supporters in Lagos

Some supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have alleged attacks by hoodlums in Lagos State as the standard bearer holds his final campaign rally in the state on Saturday.

Obi condemned every form of violence and political thuggery and the incessant attacks on my Obedient supporters.

His statement was contained in a post via his verified Twitter handle on Saturday.

Obi called on the security forces nationwide to protect those exercising their fundamental rights of free speech and assembly.

He said, “As we go into the final stretch for the 2023 elections, I call on all Nigerians regardless of political affiliation or tendency, to eschew violence. I condemn any form of violence and political thuggery; and especially the incessant attacks on my Obedient supporters.

“I call on the security forces nationwide to protect those exercising their fundamental rights of free speech and assembly. Our civic space must not shrink further.”

February 11, 2023
2023 Elections: Macaroni distances self from LP flyer bearing his image

Nigerian comic act and content creator, Adebowale Debo Adedayo popularly known as Mr Macaroni has distanced himself from a Labour Party campaign flyer with his picture on it.

Recall that Mr Macaroni had, in November 2022, endorsed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, as his preferred choice but clarified that he wouldn’t campaign for any candidate in the forthcoming 2023 general elections in the country.

When a Twitter user on Wednesday drew Macaroni’s attention to the Obi-Datti campaign flyer with his image on it, the content creator immediately distanced himself from it.

The user said: “Thought @mrmacaronii said he would not be campaigning for any party.”

Reacting to the tweet, Macaroni, in a post shared on his Twitter, distanced himself from the campaign flyer, saying his picture was used without his approval.

”I will address this again for clarity’s sake. I am voting for Peter Obi because he’s my preferred choice. It is my civic duty to vote, but I’m not obliged to campaign for him or any other politician. I am not against others who do so, but this was put out without my consent.”

February 10, 2023
“Restore Obi’s billboards”,- South-East youths issue 48-hour ultimatum to Soludo

A socio-political youth group, Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to restore the campaign billboards of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi.

Obi’s billboards and those of the LP Anambra Central senatorial candidate, Victor Umeh, located at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University temporary site were removed by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency, on Saturday.

The agency said the candidates did not follow the laid down procedures for erecting billboards.

But in a statement on Thursday, COSEYL, while condemning the removal, described the action as illegal, saying that the advert fees were fully paid for by the candidates.

The statement was signed by the group’s President General, Goodluck Ibem and Publicity Secretary, Mr Okey Nwaoru.

It reads: “We condemn in strongest terms the illegal removal of the campaign billboards of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi and the Anambra Central Senatorial Candidate Senator Victor Umeh which advert fees have been fully paid for by them.

“We have waited for some days hoping that Governor Soludo will correct the error of such great dishonour against Ndigbo but he has not corrected himself.

“The illegal action by Soludo to remove campaign billboards of these noble candidates because they are not in his political party is unconstitutional and undemocratic, to say the least.

“We are aware that why Soludo is after Mr Peter Obi and Senator Victor Umeh because these two personalities represent integrity, sincerity and transparency which is a variant of what Soludo believes in.

“The actions of Soludo clearly show that he ventured into politics because of his selfish desire which is why he is disturbed anytime he sees the billboards of these men of integrity and transparency.

“We give Governor Soludo 48 hours to replace those billboards of Mr Peter Obi and Senator Victor Umeh which he illegally removed or face the wrath of the youths.

“It is quite unfortunate that only the democracy dividends of Governor Soludo are to insult the sensibility of Ndigbo and what Ndigbo stands for. He is also on the opposing side of Igbos’ integrity and always does the direct opposite of what he says.

“We warn Governor Soludo to remove the hand of the monkey from soap before it turns to the hand of a human being. Enough said!”

January 19, 2023
LP finally resolves crisis in Lagos as new caretaker c’ttee emerges

The National Leadership of the Labour Party (LP) on Wednesday, inaugurated a new 25-man Caretaker Committee to steer the affairs of the party in Lagos State.

Inaugurating the committee at the party’s secretariat in Ikeja, Mr Akingbade Oyelekan, the LP National Legal Adviser, called for unity and hardwork in the party to face the tasks and challenges ahead.

Oyelekan said the newly inaugurated Pastor Dayo Ekong-led committee was inclusive and duly approved by the LP National Working Committee (NWC)-led by Mr Julius Abure.

“We have a very new set of people who are vibrant and committed to taking the business of Labour Party beyond where it is now. For the first time in LP, the party is fully gender sensitive.

“We believe in the capacity of the Ekong-led committee.

“I want to state that no other executive exists outside what we are inaugurating here today. The Ekong-led executive is authentic for LP.

“Any other acclaimed faction is illegal, we no longer have faction in Lagos state executive of our party,” Oyelekan said.

According to him, Lagos remains the fundamental base of LP now, hence the need for the party to put its house together in the state, project the party well in order to win the forthcoming elections.

“The party is ready for the task ahead. Before now, the narrative was that we don’t have structure but the structure is all over the world now for those who can see, LP has come to stay.

“Our appeal to all our teeming supporters out there is to go and work because we want to win 100 per cent in Lagos state,” he said.

Oyelekan, who administered Oath of Allegiance on the committee, listed other members to include Pastor Lanre Adenuga and Dr Olatunbosun Oswald (Deputy Chairmen) while the Zonal Deputy Chairmen were Mr. Igene Ayere, Pastor Funke Awolowo, Mr. Dauda Yusuf, and Mr. Tony Masha.

Other members of the committee were Mrs. Olubunmi Odesanya (Publicity Secretary), Lady Jeniifer Ukachi (Treasurer), Lady Chinwe Chinwego (Financial Secretary), Laura Ogunsola (Organising Secretary), Ebuka Morah (Auditor) and Abass Ibrahim (Legal Adviser).

Others were Hajia Amina Usman (Woman Leader), Abiodun Okubena (Youth Leader), Mrs. Olabisi Osungboye (Deputy Woman Leader) Mrs Toyin Shokunbi (Deputy Woman Leader), Mrs Jane Nwaoguala (Deputy Women Leader) among others.

Oyelekan said the inauguration of the new committee became imperative after the expiration of the tenure of the former caretaker committee and the need to urgently reposition the party for effective service.

He said that members of the committee were expected to provide effective leadership to ensure growth and development in terms of membership drive.

The newly inaugurated LP Excos in Lagos state

In her remarks, Ekong, who commended the LP NWC for finding her and her team worthy of the task, vowed not to let the party and its teeming supporters down.

“I want to assure you that peace will reign in Lagos LP. We are ready to work and our work will speak for us, and this will lead us to victory for our Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and other candidates and they will be sworn in.

“There is hope for a good tomorrow for Nigeria. The unity which was missing in LP is here and it has come to stay,” Ekong said.

She pledged loyalty and undivided attention to assure that LP rose to be the first political party in the state.

Ekong, who assured youths of better future with Peter Obi, said: “Obi will give you the hope that you have been long waiting for. LP will give every frustrated Nigerian hope. LP will make Nigeria work.

“All Nigerians who have gone away to other climes will be looking forward to coming back home when Obi emerges.”

She urged political actors and their followers in Lagos state to put a stop to all alleged harassment of LP loyalists.

On some acclaimed factions, she said that the committee had instituted machinery to united house and for all to work together.

“Everything is being put in place for us to have a unified house, we will reach out to others and settle all things in house,” she said.

January 18, 2023
Chatham House: My Presidency will dismantle inefficiency, stop transactional policies in government – Obi

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, was a guest of Chatham House, the famous British international Policy institute, saying that Nigeria’s Presidency with him and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed in charge will dismantle inefficiency and eliminate transactional policies that breed corruption in government.

Obi who took over 15 questions from the audience after his elucidating paper on various sectors said they will dismantle the structure of criminality which they have been using to hold the country.

Stating that “there will be no sacred cow” under the Obi-Datti administration, the Labour Party Presidential candidate said that “our objective is to dismantle these structures of criminality and enthrone competence, character, and capability so that talents and ideas can flourish.”

On how he intends to cope with possibly having a National Assembly that may be dominated by other parties, Obi said he went through such experience as Governor of Anambra state when none of the 30 members of the State of Assembly came from his political party, adding that what he needed to navigate such case is to do the right thing, avoid nepotism and transactional policies, because even the parliamentarians desire good governance.

Responding to question on the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and why he has not condemned them, Obi said that for him and many other reasonable Nigerians including Igbos, the Biafra war ended 53 years ago. But he is not oblivious of the agitators’ demands for justice.

According to him, “we are going to look into the issue of justice and marginalization which some of them are hinging their grievances.

“We are going to apply the carrot and stick in dealing with the agitators. But in the end there can only be one government and we will be in charge.”

On the how to attract investors to Nigeria which was asked by a former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, Obi likened what he intends to do to attract investors to bee and and honey, he will create enabling environment where rule of law thrives and will avoid any transactional policies which breeds corruption and weakens governance.

On security, he said it will be his top priority because everything will be done to secure the environment and he will do this by first turning the country into production and pulling people out of poverty and adequately utilizing our military.

Obi noted: “Our military once secured Africa and they should secure Nigeria and we will provide the needed leadership and political will.”

He also answered questions on the independence of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), saying that what is happening in the apex bank now is a consequence of mix up of responsibilities and not necessarily of competence, a situation he assured his regime will correct by ensuring that square pegs are in square holes both in personnel and policies.

Obi also said that the on-going fiscal rascality in the system will be dismantled and order and discipline injected into the country’s monetary policies.

On how to navigate the so called ‘big boys’ to be able see through his beautiful policies if elected, the LP standard bearer said the challenge will be surmounted as there will be no sacred cow.

The former Anambra state Governor also provided convincing answers to questions on education, Health, debt servicing among others to win the consistent applause from the audience.

Obi gave indication of his preparedness for the program when he was offered seat by the moderator of the program and he respectfully rejected it saying the problem in Nigeria his country is so serious not for sitting down and he stood all through the nearly two hours program.

Obi-Datti Media office reports that millions of people within and outside the country followed the program via social media and 99% of the comments eulogized the Candidate for his fantastic outing.

January 16, 2023
Keyamo speaks on Obi’s chances to win 2023 presidential election

The Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo has reacted to reports making rounds that the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s acceptance by the public took the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC by surprise ahead of the 2023 elections.

He said it is impossible for Peter Obi to win the forthcoming presidential election.

Keyamo, who also is the spokesperson for the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, denied saying Obi’s soaring popularity took his party by surprise.

The statement was contained in a post via his verified Twitter handle where he said Obi stepping into the Presidential Villa could be compared to a camel passing through the eye of a needle.

He wrote: “FAKE NEWS ALERT! A certain quote making the rounds on social/m where I purportedly said, “We never saw Peter Obi coming, he took us all by surprise, the only mistake we made in APC bla bla” is fake news. Obi entering the Villa is like a camel passing through the eye of a needle.”

January 16, 2023