Abdulkadir AbdulSalam, the factional National Chairman of Labour Party has said the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) headed by Ayuba Wabba does not have any control over the affairs of Party.
Abdulsalam was reacting to the NLC rejection of the party’s alleged adoption of Olusegun Mimiko as the party’s Presidential flagbearer for the 2019 general elections.
Abdulkadir in a statement made available to The Nation said the former Ondo State Governor was at the party secretariat to declare his intention to run for the office of President of Nigeria and not a convention.
He said, “Our attention has been drawn to mischievous statements made at a press event by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Ayuba Wabba and one Mrs. Ebere Ifendu aimed at misleading the general public about some political happenings in the Labour Party”.
“We are under no illusion that this meddlesomeness was a misguided misstep sponsored by fifth columnists to tarnish and undermine the leadership of our party and as well distract Nigerians from the presidential declaration of the immediate past governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Dr. Olusegun
Mimiko”.
“Therefore, it has become unavoidably necessary to put the issue in their proper perspective as follows: That the statement was issued out of malice, prejudice, ignorance, selfishness, greed and motivated by political opponents who are afraid of the growing fortunes and prospects of the party as we inch closer to the 2019 general elections”.
“That the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated categorically that the National Chairman of Labour Party is Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam. It is therefore in bad faith, that Ayuba Wabba was referring to an illegal, unconstitutional and a failed attempt to remove
Alhaji Salam as National Chairman”.
“The Labour Party under the leadership of Alhaji Abdulsalam sponsored candidates in the just concluded Ekiti Election and the party is also in serious contention for the upcoming Governorship election in Osun State, scheduled for September 22. All the forms for these candidates were duly endorsed by Alhaji A.A Salam as the chairman of the party”.
“While we acknowledge the solidarity of organized labour with our party, we state that the Nigeria Labour Congress is not and cannot be the owners of Labour Party as argued by Wabba by virtue of section 221 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended), which prohibits any association from contributing to the funds of any political party. It is a criminal offence under section 15 of the Trade Union Act, to use Trade Union Funds directly or indirectly to fund a Political Party. Moreover, once a Political Party is registered it has a life of its own, and it can only be regulated by its constitution (see section 80 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended)”.
“We have severally advised Comrade Ayuba Wabba in our previous press statements to focus on his roles as President of the Nigerian Labour Congress and address issues affecting workers. Nigerians are not unaware that workers are in want and poverty occasioned by the current low minimum wage, unpaid salaries and allowances while others have been sacked indiscriminately”.
“We make bold to say that the return of the immediate past Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko to Our Party, has no doubt added value and enhanced the fortunes and image of the party. In any case, why on earth would a man allegedly interested in the good fortunes of a party be more concerned with turning people away from the party instead of wooing new members?
“Let it be on record that the event of 13th September 2018 where the former Ondo State governor declared his intention to run for the office of President of Nigeria, was not a convention but a visit to announce his interest and identify fully with the party. Only people ignorant of basic party procedures will see the collection of expression of interest process as convention!”
“The current leadership of our party believes in the rule of law and the sanctity of our constitution. We therefore call on Nigerians to disregard all press statements originating from Wabba or his proxies as misplaced, self serving and inconsequential” .