By Ikenna Omeje
Labour Party has advised the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) , Ayuba Wabba, to stay focused on his role as the leader of the labour union in the country instead of meddling in politics.
In a press statement signed by the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdusalam on Saturday, Semtember 15 ,2018, the party stated that the statement issued by Mr Wabba and Mrs Ebere Ifendu, last Thursday was” issued out of malice, prejudice, ignorance, selfishness, greed and motivated by political opponents who are afraid of the growing fortunes and prospects of the party ” as the party inches closer to the 2019 general elections.
The advice is coming on the heels of a statement made by the NLC President on Thursday during a press conference in Abuja, in which Mr Wabba and the Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Mrs Ebere Ifendu, said it was not possible for the former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, to run for presidency on the platform of the Labour Party (LP). Dr Mimiko declared his ambition to run for presidency on Thursday last week at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
“The party was registered by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, market women associations and students . We registered the party and the certificate of the party is with the NLC General Secretary.
” Therefore , bringing money to buy the party or the structure will not work ; we do not share the same ideology with him . It is a party with a difference. Therefore, I want to call on Minimko once again to make sure he hands off the party, ” Wabba stated.
The party expressed sadness over the meddlesomeness of NLC President in the party’s affairs, describing it as misguided and a misstep.
“We are under no illusion that this meddlesomeness was a misguided misstep sponsored by fifth columnists to tarnish and undermine the leadership of our party and as well distract Nigerians from the presidential declaration of the immediate past governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.” The party said.
The party reiterated that ” the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated categorically that the National Chairman of Labour Party is Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam. It is therefore in bad faith, that Ayuba Wabba was referring to an illegal, unconstitutional and a failed attempt to remove Alhaji Salam as National Chairman.
