….Calls for postponement of convention

By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY—A Chieftain of the Labour Party, LP, and National Coordinator of the Party Patriotic Members Congress, PPMC, Dr Oghogho Okundaye, has called on the national leadership of the party to postpone its planned convention to give room for proper and coordinated exercise.

Besides, he said going ahead with the convention would also affect the fortunes of the party in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.

Speaking in Benin City against the background of the crisis currently rocking the party he said the need to “speak out became necessary because conducting the Convention at this point in time will cause more crisis in the party than good.”

Okundaye said the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, had not handled the crisis in the party properly and “what he has done can spell doom for the party especially in Edo State where the governorship election is expected to hold on September 21. It is sad to see the party which some of us built over the years being on the verge of collapse because of the attitude of some persons that do not mean well for the party.”

He explained that the best way to go is for the party to abide by the tenets of the Constitution and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, guidelines on how to conduct the convention “so as not to destroy the party totally” adding that the only way to avoid the collapse of the party is to postpone the convention.

The Labour Party bigwig who bemoaned the attitude of some leaders of the party trying to destroy it said members should not forget the democratic principles the party has been built upon over the years warning that “those planning to cause more crisis in the party should have a rethink as we won’t fold our arms and see our efforts being crumbled.”

On the issue of factions in the Obidient Movement, the pioneer member of the group described it as unfortunate, maintaining that those involved were originally not dedicated members but those fighting for their selfish interest.