A group, Coalition of Edo Support Group for Peter Obi(CESGPO), working assiduously for the emergence of Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate as winner of the 2023 presidential polls, has called the attention of stakeholders of the party to what it called issues “bedeviling the Edo State” chapter of the party as regards the Orhionmwon/ Uhunmwode Federal Constituency ticket that was allegedly “illegally given to Hon. Elizabeth Ativie,” the former Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
In the statement signed jointly by Dr. Blessing Akhere, Convener Citizen Movement of Nigeria; Comrade Marvis Ziba Igbinedion, Convener Actualization of Peters Conquest; Comrade Jonah Ehiosu, Concerned Citizen of Edo State and Comrade Bright Uwadia, Secretary Enough is Enough Movement for Peter Obi.
The petitioners said, “Our attention has been drawn to the recent issues bedeviling the Edo State Labour Party(LP) as regards the Orhionmwon/ Uhunmwode Federal Constituency ticket that was illegally given to Hon. Elizabeth Ativie.
“We have noticed series of press releases emanating from interest groups calling on the national leadership and the Presidential candidate of the party to look copiously into this lingering issues in other for it not to degenerate into a full blown crisis in the state chapter of the party.
“We totally condemn this brazen act of abuse of power by the National Chairman, executive rascality and attempt to subvert the will of the good people of Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency who came out enmass to unanimously elect Hon. Murphy Imasuen as their flagbearer for Orhionmwon/ Uhunmwode Federal Constituency in the forthcoming 2023 General Elections under the platform of Labour Party.”
While Speaking to journalist in a Press Briefing in Benin City, the Edo State capital, the Converner and Secretary of the Enough is Enough Movement for Peter Obi informed pressmen that the group will not leave any stone unturned in making sure that the national leadership of the Labour Party do the needful and what is right by correcting this abnormalities that is capable of destroying the image of the party and stated as follows: “we call on the national leadership of the Labour Party to come out with a position on this very contentious issues that is capable of destroying the party in the state; that majority of Nigerians already see Labour Party as the only alternative to a better Nigeria and hence the party must avoid any actions that will trigger a revolt from Nigerians; that we do not have confidence in the National Chairman, Comrade Julius Abure, whose activities in Edo State has become very detrimental to the growth of the party following his unholy romance with the ruling PDP in the state; that we have strong evidence of his anti-party activities with the ruling party in the state and such relationship may hinder the chances of Labour Party in the state if allowed to continue; we are aware that Comrade Julius Abure doubles as both the acting National Chairman and the Labour Party Senatorial candidate for Esan Central in Edo State which to us is an abnormality that must be corrected before the commencement of campaigns; that we are all aware how herculean the task of been a National Chairman of a political party is, not to talk of adding the task of also running for a senatorial election with it, and therefore calling that Comrade Julius Abure(acting National Chairman) must now drop his Excess Baggage; that Edo remain the strongest hold of the Labour Party in Nigeria currently and as such should not be plunged with unnecessary crisis that might jeopardise the party’s chances.
“Finally, we believe that the greatest task for any party as at today is to strengthen National unity as well as inclusiveness, hence we see the current structure of the Labour Party having both the National Chairman and the Presidential candidate from the Southern part of Nigeria as defective and so we are calling on the National Chairman to step down to pave way for a Northerner to step in as we sail the ship of Labour Party to victory come 2023.”
