“As the only state where Labour Party has completely upturned the political table with a majority seat in government, we have a duty to prove to Abians that this is the People’s party, where justice and fairness, competence and character will play key role that will set a precedence in governance especially to other states who has embraced Labour Party as the original game changer.” – Njoku Jerry A
By Njoku SaintJerry A.
One of the most remarkable thing that has ever happened in the Nigeria political system is the emergence of Labour Party into the mainstream. It heralded an era of political revolution, long overdue and for the first time in Abia state political history, the people’s will challenged the statusquo of political rascality of bad leadership and overcame, uprooting entire dynastic Abia State PDP stronghold to establish a genuinely democratic people’s government.
Till date, many of Nigeria’s veteran politicians are still nursing wounds of shock and confusion emanating from their colossal defeat and disgrace out of power and political relevance.
In Abia state, I followed up a PDP supporter wager a bet for #50, 000 Naira if Labour Party wins and #5,000 if his guber candidate loses. Politicians and their supporters were that confident until the day they decided to test the people’s power at the ballot.
LP, as a social democratic party represents the people’s power and setting the primus of genuine democracy in Nigeria was established the day men of avowed principles and character decided to look out for a political platform with people’s appeal.
Peoples appeal is the bedrock on which every democracy stands and survives, it is not coerced or bought over, and it cannot be manipulated because humanity detests stagnancy and force. This is what happens whenever such vices as coercion, compromise and deception is involved in any political dispensation, everything becomes stagnant and the people suffers a perennial stunted progress.
In the course of the campaign activities for the 2023 gubernatorial elections, I followed the Governor –elect Dr. Alex Otti in some of the campaign tours and he did at many of the podium declared; “Show me, among all the candidates for the gubernatorial election, any that is more competent, prepared and with the capacity and character expected of leadership that Abia deserves, I will not only stop campaigning but I will support such a candidate.”
I had monitored the campaign train of few other key candidates and had expected a counter, even from the ubiquitous social media bugs, It never happened until 18th March when the people decided to prove to the political cult that has boasted of its grip on the government of Abia state that the people, remains the bedrock of democracy and will bring down any man-made stronghold if they so desire.
Labour party remains the vehicle on which that bedrock of democracy thrives.
“As the only State where Labour Party won its governorship election on a landslide victory of about 90,000 votes ahead of the ruling PDP, Abia state is positioned to set a leadership model that is people oriented and economic sustenance.”
The people, whose strong-will paved way for that strong revolutionary event that happened in Abia state and across Nigeria at large, were influenced by strong leadership antecedents and background history of competence and fiscal discipline of the men behind that wheel of change.
Just as the Governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti had declared during his campaign tours, Mr. Peter Obi, for ten full months during his campaign tour across the country had declared; “Show me in any instance where I have been found wanting in managing the people’s welfare or government resources and I will stop campaigning” and for 10 months and counting, no opposition candidate nor party could come up with any negative counter to that statement.
This is the leadership that the Nigerian people have yearned for since its democratic dispensation, a leadership of character and competence, a leadership that do not require the sycophantic deception of the people and their political rulers.
As the only State where Labour Party won its governorship election on a landslide victory of about 90,000 votes ahead of the ruling PDP, Abia state is positioned to set a leadership model that is people oriented and economic sustenance.
The Governor-Elect, Dr. Alex Otti has repeatedly affirmed his position on carrying out the details of his manifesto of creating wealth and building industry for the South East, once famed industrial hub whose economic sustenance infrastructure has been virtually neglected for over 2 decades. This is not a political rhetoric but a manifesto of Labour Party as a social democratic party that prioritizes the welfare of the people who sustains the economic cycle.
Virtually at every forum where the Governor-Elect had been invited as Special Guest, he made his position clear of paying out all outstanding salaries and pension arrears running into 46 months, that former administrations of PDP has owed the workforce of Abia, not because he has the keys to the vaults of Central Bank of Nigeria but because he has chosen to set a leadership principle and example that is people oriented. As a matter of fact, the wheel of commerce and industry, the engine of Labour is driven by the people, therefore, when the people who sustains the economic cycle are abused and manipulated, tell me what kind of a political society are you building.
Labour party do not breed laziness, this is the more reason, the Governor-Elect had made it clear that he do not have to appoint every Tom, Dick and David to political offices neither is he going to engage in sharing the peoples collective welfare to a group of political elites codenamed ‘stakeholders’ as this has contributed to excessive sycophancy in previous administrations. Rather he will support business ideas that will accelerate wealth creations and growth of the SME industries.
Labour party do not have rooms for sycophancy whereby a group of people make money from praising the governor to high heaven whereas they’re only deceiving and distracting him from seeing realities of governance.
As the only state where Labour Party has completely upturned the political table with a majority seat in government, we have a duty to prove to Abians that this is the People’s party, where justice and fairness, competence and character will play key role that will set a precedence in governance especially to other states who has embraced Labour Party as the original game changer.
Njoku SaintJerry A. is the Abia State Publicity Secretary of Labour Party, he writes from Umuahia
