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STATEMENT FROM THE LABOUR PARTY
LP/ NLC tussle: Tanko Yunusa blinded by ambition, not mandated to speak for Obi
* Stop constituting public nuisance, LP warns Political Commission
The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to numerous media reports in which Dr. Tanko Yunusa has been quoted as speaking for the party’s National Leader, Peter Obi at the illegal, unconstitutional meeting convened by the Political Commission of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
We have also watched Tanko Yunusa’s recent media outbursts where he has ferociously attacked the leadership of the party, particularly after the successful National Convention of the Party, where he had schemed with the NLC’s Political Commission with the assurances that he will drive the new leadership of the party. We must state here that Yunusa Tanko cannot surreptitiously in connivance with the NLC hijack the leadership of the party through the back door.
On Tuesday, Yunusa also attempted to twist the well intentioned visit of our National Leader to the Labour Party headquarters in Abuja on a solidarity with the newly elected National Working Committee where he pledged to support the party leadership and work for the reconciliation of the aggrieved members of the party.
Yunusa Tanko in his usual way of concocting lies also said that Peter Obi had met with the political arm of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and that of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, on that Wednesday morning. We have fact checked and found out that this was another blatant lies by the self appointed spokesperson of Peter Obi.
I must state it here clearly that we have it on good authority that Yunusa Tanko does not have permission of our Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi to speak on his behalf and that the expressions he made at that Stakeholders meeting and that of the Press Release were his personal views and not the views of our principal.
Tanko Yunusa and his Co travellers should stop dragging the name of the Trade Union Congress into their illegal and unconstitutional actions. The leadership of TUC has made their terms clear. TUC is working closely and are in alliance with the party hence they attended the party’s National Convention and have also been interfacing with the party leadership on every actions we have been taken.
We must also state clearly here, just as Peter Obi has taught us that any person aspiring to any office must tell us who he is and his trajectory.
It has become imperative for us to note that Yunusa Tanko was the National Chairman of the National Conscience Party, NCP for 13 years and in all those years, he was always the presidential candidate of the party and he subsequently used the position to bargain with the party in government. Even at the state level, his party was reputed to always lead in the bargaining with the party in government.
As a national chairman, his party, the NCP could not produce a single Counsellor all through his time, however, by the time he came to Labour Party, cap in hand begging, the leadership of the party decided to rehabilitate him politically hence he was appointed as a Director of Media in the party and subsequently seconded to be the spokesperson at the Presidential Council which has since been dissolved immediately after the Presidential election.
The current leadership of the party without sounding immodest has shown capacity and political sagacity by producing a state Governor, 7 Senators, 35 House of Representatives members and numerous members of the state Assembly members and today Labour Party has assumed the status of a major opposition party. We have remained the voice of the voiceless and have represented the people of Nigeria effectively.
We would like to warn Tanko Yunusa to stop dropping the name of Peter Obi everywhere he goes and be man enough to stand on his Pedigree when attending illegal meetings such as the one conducted by the NLC’s Political Commission.
We are also calling on the NLC’s Political Commission to wake up from their slumber and stop constituting public nuisance with their so called Interim Leadership. They must realize that Nigeria is a country with law and that the law does not support their actions. Since they have chosen to dance naked in the market square, we have refused to go low with them but we only want to assure them that for every action there will certainly be a reaction.
SIGN
Obiora Ifoh
National Publicity Secretary
Labour Party
24-05-2024
