January 07, (THEWILL) – The Labour Party (LP) and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last week disagreed over which one of them deserved the status of the main opposition party.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, stirred the hornet’s nest when in his New Year message he rated the LP ahead of PDP.
The former governor of Anambra State said the LP would continue to adjust to its new role as the main opposition party.
But, objecting to LP’s claim to a superior opposition status, PDP leaders said LP was day dreaming and evading reality.
There were reports that the PDP National Vice Chairman (South-West), Kamoru Ajisafe berated the LP for a shortfall in objectivity, while its former governorship candidate in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) said LP’s claim lacked substance.
Former PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Diran Odeyemi reportedly said LP’s claim was absurd and laughable.
Ordinarily, the PDP is the main opposition political party because it has more state governors and more members at the National Assembly, but the Labour Party has shown its interest to step in because the PDP was becoming docile.
Political opposition to the ruling All Progressives’ Congress (APC), over the past eight years has been ultra-lacklustre, if not non-existent.
After the loss of the then ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in the 2015 political tidal wave that brought the latter to power, political opposition to the ruling APC essentially were non-existent or put differently, went to sleep.
Disapproval of the ruling party’s rich failings and incapability was left to a section of the media and the twittering class, as opposition parties and hitherto vituperative civil society groups went into an incestuous hibernation that allowed the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari to foist their unimpactful agenda on Nigerians.
The feebleness of the PDP as the lead opposition meant that the ruling party continued to define the narrative, shaping the country without alternative voices gaining hold amongst the masses.
The PDP only became visible again just before the 2019 presidential elections and yet again went on a long sleep after its electoral and judicial loss, ceding the political and policy space to the ruling party.
The Labour Party (LP), a previously peripheral party rode on the back of its popular presidential candidate, Obi to win 25 per cent of votes in the last election in 12 states. Its candidate came third with 6,101,533 votes.
Obi has assured that his party would fully adjust to fit its new role as Nigeria’s main opposition party in the New Year.
Obi however, said the onerous responsibility is to have LP remain firmly in opposition and keep the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on its toes to protect the country and the interest of Nigerians.
THEWILL recalls that former Vice President and presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, called for a coalition of opposition parties against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) last November.
Atiku made the call when he hosted the national executive committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) led by its national president, Yabagi Sani.
IPAC is a platform of all Nigerian political parties, but the ruling parties at every given time have excluded themselves from the group.
Atiku, who decried what he described as a gradual slide into a one-party state, said the opposition parties needed to come together to challenge the ruling APC to save Nigeria’s democracy.
“We have all seen how the APC is increasingly turning Nigeria into a dictatorship of one party. If we don’t come together to challenge what the ruling party is trying to create, our democracy will suffer for it, and the consequences of it will affect the generations yet unborn,” Atiku was quoted as saying in a statement by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, on Tuesday.
The coalition that Atiku seeks should have members of the opposition parties in the National Assembly jointly sponsor legislation “that will advance the course of the constitutional and electoral reforms”.
Many watchers of political development believe Atiku’s calling for coalition of opposition is a failure of the PDP to perform the official functions of the main opposition party, being the second largest party after the ruling APC.
Political analysts, commentators and watchers of political developments in the country believe the PDP has not adjusted to its role as the main opposition party since it lost power in 2015 to the APC.
However Obi, while addressing the nation in his New Year Message said there was no backing down on the task of having a new Nigeria going forward.
“As Nigeria is the only country we have, deeply endowed but lacking good leadership over the years, we will continue to seek a new Nigeria that we know is possible,” he said.
Obi who hammered on what has now become the party and ‘Obidient Movement’ insisted that a new Nigeria was possible in spite of the numerous yet-to-be-fulfilled aspirations of citizens.
His said: “The events of the past year are now part of our national history. As we trudge on, we remain mindful of the state of our nation and that our best hopes and aspirations remain largely unfulfilled.
“Peace and security continue to elude us with the rising level of bloodletting deeply troubling and sometimes beyond a war situation. A situation where hundreds of Nigerians are violently killed in December alone is deeply sad and unacceptable.
“While we pray for the repose of the souls departed, we demand that the federal government must do whatever is required to bring the perpetrators to justice and permanently stop a reoccurrence in any part of Nigeria.”
Obi noted that Nigeria’s economy needed an urgent turnaround, considering the rising unemployment, inflation, poverty, inequality, and other key socioeconomic variables.
He said, “Nigerians are now very aware and convinced that good governance, inclusive development, and accountable leadership expected in a functional democracy continue to elude us.
“But we must be consistent and resolute in our demand for the rule of law, regulatory quality, and government effectiveness for transformative solutions to a litany of our social problems.
“If there is one fundamental threat to our democracy, it is the undermining and weakening of our national institutions and the capture of state affairs and resources by a few individuals and private interests.
“This must stop for Nigeria to move forward and function as an inclusive and sustainable society and nation,” he said.
Insisting that there must be full respect for the separation of powers between the three independent arms of government, as well as between the federating units in a democratic and secular country like Nigeria, Obi tasked the National Assembly (NASS) to devote time and energy in committing itself to the diligent performance of its functions, like the 2024 budget, which required its prudent examination and subsequent patriotic-oriented approval or rejection.
“It is imperative for Nigeria to work for Nigerians in order to avoid a possible drift into a one-party state or a situation where the federal government will be intervening unduly in the internal affairs of the states, particularly in circumstances where national security is not threatened.
“We in the Labour Party have undertaken in the national interest and in our undying commitment to a New Nigeria that is possible, to remain firmly in opposition and, as such, must remain focused going forward. Our collective role in nation-building remains fundamental and obligatory,” he said.
Using the opportunity to appreciate all Nigerians for supporting his campaign during the 2023 elections and voting for the LP because of their belief in the quest for a New Nigeria, Obi said the outcome of the 2023 presidential elections was contested and remained so, on record, “but the Courts of law have spoken; so be it.
“I wish to thank members of the Labour Party, the Obidient Family, friends, and well-wishers of Nigeria for their loyalty, resilience, tenacity, and commitment to true democracy. We will continue ongoing discussions and efforts for the Labour Party to adjust to our new role as Nigeria’s main opposition party.
“We will continue to constructively engage all Nigerians and our friends, who have now realized the vast implications of the road not taken; and the folly of national interest decisions predicated on sentiments and primordial interests,” he further stated.
Describing Nigeria as a God-given country whose business was far too important to be left in the hands of those involved in transactional politics, the former Anambra Chief Executive said, “I am involved in the struggle for a New Nigeria that is possible and works for all and will remain passionately committed to the crusade.
“I, therefore, implore you all who strive for a New Nigeria to remain fully engaged, committed and resilient as it is and will be possible.”
In his statement, Obi said the nation must work assiduously to avoid drifting to a one-party state.
Taking exception to Obi’s claim to number one position for LP in the opposition, Ajisafe said the claim lacked basis.
He said: “I don’t know what basis they will claim to be the main opposition party when PDP has more spread than Labour Party in terms of governors, senators, and House of Representatives members. What basis?
“Labour Party has not even been criticising the government as a group or as a party, except what Obi and his running mate are doing individually.”
The Southwest PDP leader said the LP claim lacked justification at a time the party is seriously battling with intra-party crisis arising from disputation over its national chairmanship.
Ajisafe stressed: “The activities of the PDP are not hidden. You can see the activities of our party and individuals in PDP. They are playing their opposition roles well. By March, it will become clearer.
“There is a limit to how you can manipulate the system. Labour Party does not have the strength to claim the number one position in the opposition. Where is their evidence?
“Labour Party does not enjoy the same spread that PDP enjoys. Labour Party is having leadership problem. Who is their national chairman? It is a contentious issue. There is no division in the PDP. But Labour Party is in court with its national leadership.”
Jegede, who is a top stalwart from Ondo State, said Obi’s claim amounted to wishful thinking.
He said: “You said they are claiming to be the main opposition party. Anybody can claim. Everybody knows who the main opposition party is. It is us the PDP and not the Labour Party.”
Odeyemi chided Obi for regression into absurdity, saying that he made a false claim.
He said: “It is very absurd for the Labour Party that is just finding its way on the political scene to call itself the main opposition party in Nigeria. It is even laughable for Labour Party, which hardly controls a state, unlike the PDP which has many senators, House of Representatives members and governors, to call itself the main opposition party.”
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
