- Says Peter Obi Lacks Leadership Qualities
By Abiola Olawale and Afolabi Samuel Odunayo
A former spokesman for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has declared his intention to dump the Labour Party and also part ways with the 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi.
Okonkwo, in a press statement issued on Sunday, said his decision to dump the Labour Party was due to the internal crisis rocking the party.
Okonkwo, a popular actor turned politician, said he is disappointed that Obi shows a lack of leadership in putting the Labour Party in order.
He explained that some members of the Labour Party are confused about the party’s future due to lack of leadership and direction from Obi. He admitted that when members look to him for guidance on Obi’s standpoint, he has nothing to say because he is unaware.
Okonkwo added that he cannot continue to speak on behalf of a leader whose stance on important issues is unknown to him, as he does not know how to manipulate facts.
He also emphasised that Obi has not shown leadership qualities that qualify him to lead a big country like Nigeria when he couldn’t lead the Labour Party.
The statement reads in part: “Nigerians, including me, had high hopes for the Labour Party. I believe that Peter Obi will seize the momentum and build a solid party of integrity that will have the solid base that we need to overthrow these kakistocrats and kleptocrats. He just needed to give the right directives and everyone would fall in line
“My first shock was 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 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 problems. To no avail.”
He also pointed out that Peter Obi “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.
“Every member of the Labour Party is confused today as to the future of the Labour Party because of the lack of leadership from PO (Peter Obi) over the party, and unfortunately, when they look up to me to tell them about PO’s standpoint, I sincerely have nothing to tell them because I don’t know myself.
“I cannot continue to speak on behalf of a leader that I do not know his stand on issues of great importance. I simply don’t know how to manipulate facts.
“Consequence is that I no longer have the confidence that PO has what it takes to build a party that can win these kakistocrats and kleptocrats, and above all, he has proved that even if the people vote for him, he doesn’t have what it takes to secure the mandate.
“I don’t intend to embark on such a campaign as we did in 2023, projecting a person who cannot sustain the victory even if he wins.
“It’s in this regard that I have decided to continue my political journey into the great Nigeria of our vision without Peter Obi.
“I am always 100% loyal to a leader whenever I am working or following the leader. At any time I have doubts within me that I can no longer offer 100% loyalty to him, I will respectfully let everyone know.
“When I joined his campaign, I made it public. Now that I cannot guarantee my support for his future political aspirations, I believe I owe it to everyone to let everyone know.”
