The Labour Party expanded stakeholders have received the support of the Political Commission of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and its National Transition Committee as the commission has given conditional support for the Peter Obi/ Governor Alex Otti-led initiative to reposition the party.
On Wednesday, the two leaders working with other stakeholders held a meeting in Umuahia, the Aba State capital, set up a 29-member interim administration for the LP with ex-Finance Minister, Nanedi Usman, as interim leader.
Responding to this development, the Acting Chairman of the NLC’s Political Commission, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, and the commission’s National Transition Committee headed by Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, welcomed the initiative describing it as a right step in the right direction.
Speaking Thursday night,Prof. Ndubuaku said, “Yesterday (Wednesday) in Umuahia, the whole world, elected and status leaders of our Labour Party, from their Excellencies Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti to members of the House of Senate and House of Representatives, including governorship aspirants from the six geopolitical zones, publicly recognised and embraced what the NTC led by Comrade Abdulwahed Omar has been saying on rooftops since April this year.
“That Abure’s tenure has ended since June 9, 2024. This is our first collective victory and a major triumph for the Labour Party nationwide.
“Today therefore marks a new beginning and chapter for Labour Party nationwide.”
While commenting on the formation of a national caretaker committee for the party, he said, “You will recall that only the chairman and its secretary have been proposed and announced.
“It is a struggle we started from beginning to today, absolutely with our own resources and virtually without help from our elected and relevant leaders of the political class in the Labour Party.
“At the minimum, we ought to be acknowledged and consulted in the formation and appointment of the caretaker committee’s members, especially such critical officers as chairman and secretary. We were not.”
Ndubuaku who claimed he was not consulted said, “the NLC Political Commission and its NTC committee believe that the Peter Obi and Alex Otti led organisers are reasonable leaders who desire the unity, harmony and rancour-free cohesion of the party going forward.
“We are therefore optimistic that this time they will seek the NLC Political Commission’s and TUC’s opinion, give us our rightful say in the ratification of the chairmanship and secretary appointments they have announced, as well as the composition of the remaining proposed 27 members strength of the committee.”
He further said, “We also believe that if there is a need to expand the proposed National Caretaker Committee beyond their present proposed 29-member mark, they will do so.
“That will demonstrate that they are listening leaders who understand that every stakeholder, especially critical blocs like the NLC, TUC and other entities of our party should be carried along to have a sense of belonging for our overall membership growth, national expansion and progress.”
“In the above light, it shall be imperative for the incoming National Caretaker Committee or transition NWC, if I may use the expression, to consciously accommodate in the coming days the legitimate wish list of the NLC Political Commission and its NTC committee, which have been at work since April. “
Making further clarifications, Ndubuaku confirmed that it was true that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not present at the Umuahia expanded stakeholders meeting to witness and enroll the resolutions announced in their books and portals to make them legally final.
“That is why only two officers, the chairman and secretary, were announced. The remaining 27 members or more shall be listed hereafter and subjected to harmony-promoting consultations before they are announced and inaugurated in the course of time.
“In conclusion, the Labour Party is on course for better and brighter days.”
At press time, it was learnt that the NLC Political Commission is in discussions to re-name, retain and sustain the Labour Party National Transition Committee (NTC) as an organ of strategic conflict management, engagement and resolution, policy study and programmes development of the NLC.
Chuks Okocha
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