Obi Joins Labour Party, Writes Supporters; Says It Is “The Road to Recovery”; Nigerians Doubt Viability Of Vehicle

By Adesina Soyooye

Mr Peter Obi, two-time Governor of Anambra State, has joined the Labour Party.

He is to fly the Party’s flag as its Presidential candidate.

Obi made his position known today in a letter he wrote to his millions of supporters, especially, Nigerian Youths.

In the letter titled The Road To Recovery, Obi said he has “chosen a route free of rancour and one in line with my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production and that is the Labour Party which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting Nigerians as one family.”

He, therefore, invited Nigerians “to join me to take back our country”.

For him, he said, “The process of getting into this high office is as fundamental as what one will do thereafter.”

Obi: “I thank all Nigerians, especially our youths, who have joined me in the mission of rescuing and taking back Nigeria.

“This project is yours and for the future of your children. I am just a facilitator.

“Since I resigned from the PDP because of issues that are at variance with my persona and principles, I have  consulted widely with various parties and personalities to ensure we do not complicate the route to our desired destination.

“For me, the  process of getting into this high office is as fundamental as what one will do thereafter.

“Therefore, I have chosen a route free of rancour and one in line with my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production and that is the Labour Party,  which is synonymous with the  people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting the Nigerians as one family.

“I invite my fellow Nigerians to join me  to  take back our country.

“Be assured that I’ll never let you down.”

However, not a few Nigerians are questioning the viability of the vehicle he has chosen to his destination – Labour Party, LP.

The party is not popular in Nigeria. It does not have structures across the country. And has no representative at the States or National Assembly. It, also, controls no Local Government Area or State.

More important, Nigerian workers, who ordinarily should own the Party, do not believe in it.

A former National Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, ignored Labour  Party, and ran on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC to become Edo State Governor. He later became APC’s National Chairman.

In Kebbi State, Dr Nasir Idris, the Deputy Chairman of the NLC, has just won the Governorship ticket of the APC.

Opinion among many is that Labour Party and Obi should  enter into an alliance with other opposition parties if they hope to make the desired impact.

However, Obi has a cult-followership among the Youths, especially. It is estimated that he already has about 15 million votes in the bag.

Obi was a Presidential aspirant under the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, until May 20, 2022, when he quit the Party citing issues at variance with his principles.

He was a two-time Governor of Anambra State under the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, before he defected to PDP.