The crisis rocking the leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has taken a new twist on Monday as Labour veterans and trade unionists’ assembly have insisted that the National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure and the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, must go.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Veteran labour leader, Comrade Isah Tijjani, who was the former vice president of NLC lamented the ongoing show of shame, being flagrantly exhibited by the duo of Abure and Ajaero.
He said instead of proudly upholding the noble ideals of the party, a handful of avaricious, power hungry political fraudsters, have since deployed several criminal subterfuges through which, they have succeeded in turning the nation’s promising workers party into a colossal political travesty.
“The cumulative effect of this unfortunate development, is that, the political prospects signalled by the entry of this popular party into the contest for power in our dear country, are fast eroding into an unfathomable oblivion.
“This disagreeable decadence gripping the party, is being given tangible expression by the irony of the corrupt party leaders closing the gate of the party firmly against millions of workers willing to joyously join the party.
“Regrettably, as we speak, this pathetic situation continued unabated, because the NLC which is supposed to play its rightful role as the collective conscience of the party, woefully failed to rise to this enormous responsibility, which she treats with unforgivable levity and reckless abandon.”
The Veterans therefore, asserted that, a quick glance at the current critical issues, by any casual observer, is likely to reveal, that, at the deep roots of these daunting challenges, is the nauseating culture of selfishness under which the very obstinate and highly egocentric president of NLC, comrade Joe Ajaero, has been deeply enmeshed.
Adding, Tijjani said the unwholesome reality, partly explains why in recent times, the NLC under comrade Joe Ajaero, continues to register huge losses in both the field of Industrial Relations and in the battle to recover and reposition the Labour Party.
“The legion of Labour Veterans, is intimately familiar with the damning records of financial sleaze said to have been flagrantly perpetrated by the national chairman of LP, Julius Abure, an inveterate money monger of no mean repute.
“This familiarity has emboldened the rank and file of our members nationwide, to spontaneously join the many well meaning and patriotic groups and highly spirited individuals who are calling for the immediate arrest and trial of Mr Julius Abure.
“We strongly believe, that his trial and subsequent conviction will serve as a deterrent to aspiring younger politicians, particularly those from trade unions background.
“In this connection, our good members are hereby strongly reaffirming their cardinal demand, that, Abure Must Go.
“Hence, our members will not despair, in pointing the many failings of comrade Joe Ajaero, especially in the sphere of labour unionism, which clearly demonstrate that his well known choleric temperament and overly undemocratic character, have combined to make him totally unsuitable for labour leadership,” the said.