Some Trade Union veterans have accused the National Chairman of Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure, of involvement in acts that dented the image of the party, and subsequently asked him to resign.
In a statement by Comrade Lawson E. Osagie, the veterans including, pioneer President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, the 2nd President of the NLC, Comrade Ali Chiroma, called on Abure to resign.
The Trade Unions veterans, who issued the press statement included the pioneer President of the NLC, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, the 2nd President, Comrade Ali Chiroma, the pioneer General Secretary of the Congress, Comrade Aliyu Dangiwa, and the 2nd National Treasurer of the NLC, Comrade S. O. Oshidipe.
Others were Comrade S. O. Z Ejiofoh, the Board of Trustees Chairman and pioneer Chairman of the Labour Party, Comrade Lawson Osagie and Comrade Salisu Mohammed, all of whom were said to be among the main actors in the formation and registration of the Labour Party.
In the statement issued on Sunday, the Trade Union veterans regretted that the noble ideals that made them to form the Labour Party to free Nigerian people from decades of bad governance were being desecrated by Abure.
“We cannot sit down and continue to watch as the ideals, principles, and ethical values of Labour Party we toiled so much to build over the decades are being rubbished by one man.
“Consequently, we urge Barrister Abure to step aside now as the National Chairman of Labour Party and in his place, the Board of Trustees should appoint a Caretaker National Chairman that will organise Congresses in the States before the National Convention can be convened,” the labour leaders emphasised.
They stressed the need for the Board of Trustees under the chairmanship of Comrade Ejiofoh to be enlarged to accommodate representatives of the new stakeholders namely Mr. Peter Obi, Governor Alex Otti and the Labour Party Legislative Caucus.
“This body will be charged with the implementation in spirit and letter of the MOU referred to earlier,” they added.
They posited that the Supreme Court under Justice Uwais ruled long ago that workers had the right to form a political party to defend and promote their interest.
“How then can any well-read and informed lawyer say that NLC has no business in politics or is a meddlesome interloper in the affairs of Labour Party formed by the Trade Unions themselves?”
Onyebuchi Ezigbo
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