The crisis rocking the Labour Party got worsened yesterday by the suspension of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa and five other national officers.
Others suspended are Alhaji Saleh Lawal (Deputy Secretary); Rawland Daramola (Financial Secretary); Prince Reuben Favour (Vice Chairman, Southsouth); Samuel Akingbade (Legal Adviser) and Mohammed Akali (Vice Chairman, Northeast).
They were sanctioned by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) for alleged anti-party activities.
The NEC also upheld the decision of the Akure convention, which expelled the National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi.
On April 6, Apapa and five others took over the affairs of the party following the ruling of a Federal High Court, which barred Julius Abure from parading himself as chairman of the party. The court also restrained three others from functioning.
Acting on the order, Apapa, who doubles as the Vice Chairman (South), took over the party, pending the vacation of the court order.
But the NEC, during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, announced the suspension of Apapa and his acting executive council.
It passed a vote of confidence on the Abure-led NWC at the meeting.
At yesterday’s NEC meeting were state chairmen; state secretaries; presidential candidate of the party Peter Obi; National Assembly members-elect, In+dependent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
It was gathered that the meeting was called by Abure and the former National Secretary of the party, Umar Farouk.
The NWC has the power to summon a NEC meeting. Abure and Farouk are members of the NWC.
The NEC also extended the tenure of the present NWC of the party by one year.
In a joint statement by the Deputy National Chairman, Ladi lliya, and Deputy National Secretary, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, the LP said: “NEC in session examined the anti-party activities of some of its members and resolved as follows:
- Reaffirm and uphold the decision of the Akure convention which expelled Comrade Arabambi Abayomi.
- NEC considered the disciplinary committee report which recommended the suspension of Anslem Eragbe and recommended the same to the next convention for expulsion. Pending the next convention, NEC suspends him indefinitely.
- NEC suspended the following NWC members: Lamidi Apapa; Alhaji Salem Lawal; Prince Favour Reuben; Gbenga Daramola; Samuel Akingbade and Mohammed Akali
- NEC in session constituted a disciplinary Committee as follows: Ladi Illiya; Rotimi Adekunle; Prince Kennedy Ahanotu; Yunusa Tanko; Chief Tony Ezeagwu.”
The NEC also appointed Prince Kennedy Ahanotu as the National Youth Leader; Obiora Ifoh, acting national publicity secretary; Edun Kehinde, acting national Legal adviser; Rotimi Kehinde, deputy national secretary and Chief Anthony Ezeagwu, Acting national vice -chairman (Southsouth).
It added that after considering that the tenure of the current NWC would end in June, the numerous court cases and the outcomes of the general elections, it would be “most malapropos to convene a national convention.
Consequently, the NEC resolved to extended the tenure of the current NWC by one year in line with “our party’s constitution in article 13 (2) (B) IX.”
The NEC also restated its ”implicit confidence in the Abure – led NWC.”
Obi sues for calm
But in a statement, Obi said he never expected the journey to a New Nigeria to be an easy one.
He, therefore, called on supporters to be steadfast and calm.
According to the statement by the Obi – Datti Media Office, the former governor assured Nigerians, particularly Obidients, that he would not give up on the journey until victory was achieved.
Obi said: “If they come at us through land, air, and sea, we will respond to them through land, air, and sea, but we will remain law abiding and will never give up on the nation.
“We are on the right path, and we will remain committed to the course.”
He revealed that there might be more mudslinging on him from those who are against the emergence of a new Nigeria.
His words: “I have always lived my life in the most law-abiding manner possible. Sometimes, as humans, we make mistakes, but I will never knowingly break any law. I am, therefore, not afraid of the lies and propaganda against my person. They are part of the journey to a New Nigeria.”
Credit: The Nation
