Unease, fear, mistrust, accusations and counter accusations are about to rip Labour Party in Edo State apart as politicians who did not know how the party was formed or the abiding principles have taken charge to reap where they did not sow.
Feelers from some quarters show that this is the general expression of most Labour Party members who devoted their time, resources, and energy to ensure the party gained prominence and national credibility, and that if care is not taken this negative trend will degenerate to an unimaginable and unmanageable level, that might make Labour Party worse than PDP and APC combined.
An aggrieved party stalwart, Comrade Akugbe Ighile from Orhionmwon LGA recently wondered why “some so-called party leaders are massively registering persons who have no bearings with Labour Party or understand the principles by which the party operates or even know the secretariat of the party, enlisting them to become delegates or aspirants in the forthcoming elections, adding, “Who does that?”
“Where are the trustees of the party? He queried. “The Party is sadly heading for disaster if it continues with this Emperor-like manner. One would have expected a congress to be held before the primaries in February. I must confess that the leaders of the Party are docile”, he quipped.
“It is a known fact that the primaries are closer than expected and party leaders are divided along the lines of principles on the one side, and going for the highest bidder, on the other. This therefore gives room for the LP gubernatorial aspirants to begin to ask rhetorical questions about the role of the party and its leaders in ensuring credible and popular candidate to represent the party.”
Labour Party, according to Comrade Akugbe, has quality and credible card carrying members with up to date dues and wonders why “the present merchants parading themselves as party leaders are hiring mercenaries in the name of would-be delegates for the forthcoming Labour Party primaries”.
He said further, if Labour Party must remain a united family to be able to win the hearts of the masses and the Obidient movement towards victory at the polls, the party need to stick to the tenets of the principles that binds the party members together.
“Labour Party, in the forthcoming election in Edo State must not be allowed to go the way of Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi, Enugu, Lagos, and a few other States where the interest of the Party was sacrificed on the altar of personal gains.”
He admonished the Party leadership that “equity, justice, fairness, and inclusiveness should guide them in electing a strong, vibrant, marketable, competent candidate to fly the party’s flag at the Edo 2024 election.
