Nigeria is collapsing, says Obi

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has raised an alarm about the worsening situation in Nigeria, describing the country as being on the brink of collapse. He made the statement on Wednesday in Abuja during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and expanded stakeholders’ summit at […]

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has raised an alarm about the worsening situation in Nigeria, describing the country as being on the brink of collapse.

He made the statement on Wednesday in Abuja during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and expanded stakeholders’ summit at Transcorp Hilton.

Obi expressed dismay over the state of affairs, stating: “Do not fear anybody. Those who were afraid yesterday didn’t do any better. We must speak out when things are going wrong. Nigeria is collapsing. The numbers are clear; the indices are clear, people are getting poorer every day.”

He called for urgent action to rescue the country and urged both party members and Nigerians not to be intimidated.

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The former Anambra State Governor lamented that individuals who once offered him food and drinks now approach him for assistance due to the rising poverty in the country.

“Those that would call me to come and eat and drink with them, now see me and ask for assistance,” he remarked.

Speaking on the Labour Party’s future, Obi emphasised the need for the party to go into the next election fully prepared with competent candidates across all levels of governance.

He stressed the importance of party loyalty and competence, urging that only committed members should be allowed to run for office. “Anyone seeking to contest under our party must be a committed member, not just someone passing through. They must be competent,” Obi said.

He also dismissed rumours of his potential departure from the party, affirming, “I’ve not told anybody that I’m leaving the Labour Party.”

 

S/Court judgment’s CTC affirms Usman’s LP caretaker committee – Gov Otti

Meanwhile, supporters of the Senator Esther Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the Labour Party broke into jubilation on Wednesday in Abuja following the release of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of last Friday’s Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership dispute.

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, who read excerpts from the judgment at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and expanded stakeholders’, said the court affirmed the leadership of Senator Usman.

The meeting came two days after a factional national chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure, threatened to sanction both Otti and Obi for alleged anti-party activities and the planned parallel NEC meeting held on the day.

Quoting the judgment, Otti said, “The Supreme Court has affirmed that the plaintiffs (Usman and others) were right in their appeal and went further to admonish politicians to respect the tenures of office as stipulated in their respective political party constitutions.”

He also criticised Abure for insisting on remaining as LP national chairman despite the expiration of his tenure, saying party members no longer want him in that role.

“I had a meeting with him (Abure) and asked him what he wanted. He said he didn’t want anything. We offered him the chairmanship of the party’s board of trustees (BoT). He went ahead to want to stay on, even when his tenure and that of the National Working Committee (NWC) had expired,” Otti said.

He added, “The correct procedure, if you still want to be national chairman, is to start from the ward congress, then proceed to the state and zonal congresses, where delegates would emerge for the national convention. Every member is free to contest.”

Following their resolutions, the LP delegation, led by Governor Otti, visited INEC headquarters in Abuja to submit the CTC of the Supreme Court judgment. Otti noted that the visit was aimed at ensuring clarity, mutual understanding, and institutional alignment regarding the LP’s current structure.

INEC’s Acting Chairman, Sam Olumekun, and other National Commissioners received the delegation. Both parties discussed how to reinforce democratic values and ensure the neutrality of the commission. Olumekun reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to transparency and the rule of law in its constitutional duties.

 

Abure reacts

Meanwhile, the faction led by Barrister Julius Abure has responded to the ruling, claiming that it has been vindicated by the Supreme Court judgment. In a statement by its spokesman, Obiorah Ifoh, the faction insisted that the judgment does not support Usman’s faction or claim that Abure’s tenure had expired.

“The Supreme Court emphatically stated that issues within the political party are internal affairs, and party supremacy must be observed. Any meeting convened in disregard of the party’s constitution is illegal and its outcome null and void,” he said.

He warned those participating in the Abuja meeting to cease further factionalizing the party, promising that disciplinary actions would follow if the party’s constitution was violated.