Kenneth Okonkwo gives reasons for dumping Labour Party, Peter Obi | Read More
A former spokesman of the Labour Party’s presidential campaign council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has resigned his membership from the party anf has also withdrawn his support for Mr Peter Obi.
Okonkwo who is a Nollywood actor cum lawyer, made his decision known in an open letter he shared on his social media handles on Saturday.
In the letter titled “Political Journey to a Great Nigeria,” Okonkwo said he is disappointed with the party’s internal crisis and the failure of Peter Obi to address it.
According to Okonkwo, “It’s obvious that the APC or PDP, as presently constituted, do not have what it takes to lead us to a great Nigeria.
“Indeed, their combined leadership is trying to cripple Nigeria as this blessed country is now down economically, politically, and in every other index, leaving the people with no other option than to protest for their survival. They can see no hope for the future.
“Unfortunately, by our Constitution, we need a solid political party with a solid grassroots base to be able to wrestle power from these kakistocrats and kleptocrats.
“We, therefore, need a decisive leader who will be able to build such a party of integrity and character from the grassroots because, eventually, the majority of the people that will populate a government will proceed from the political party of the leader.”
Okonkwo maintained that Nigeria needs a decisive leader who will be selfless enough, in boldness and bravery, to secure people’s victory.
According to him, he’s earnestly searching for a leader with the integrity, charisma and bravery to mobilise the people to sustain victory if Nigeria votes for such a person.
Okonkwo said his faith in Peter Obi’s potential “to build a strong, integrity-driven party capable of overthrowing corrupt leaders” had been misplaced.
In his words;
“I received my first shock when he publicly declared that he didn’t promise Nigerians to build a strong Labour Party, but to solve Nigeria’s problems. I was like, does it mean HE Peter Obi is not aware that without a solid party base, we are heading nowhere politically? However, I continued in his defence believing he would still privately bring the needed solution to LP’s problems. To no avail.
“PO also publicly demanded that the Abure-led National Working Committee must organise an all-inclusive convention that will guarantee the participation of all members of the Labour Party in the choice of their leaders. This didn’t happen, and surprisingly, PO refused to disassociate himself from the shenanigans and criminal activities of the former NWC as their time had expired.
“I am shocked that PO could not openly support the noble efforts of the Labour Unions who founded the Labour Party as a base to fight for the welfare of workers to the extent that some of them are openly saying that PO is now the problem of LP.
“The Labour Unions now have an unfortunate situation where they are fighting criminals who want to hijack their party when an ordinary statement from Peter Obi would have brought the solution. I cannot continue with this ambivalence forever”.
