- By Femi Alabi
The National Chairman of Labour Party, Barr. Julius Abure, has identified Nigeria’s problem as bad leadership, saying once the country gets it right, every other thing will be fixed
Abure who was fielding questions from newsmen in Umuahia Abia State, after a critical meeting of the National Working Committee NWC members of LP, with Gov. Alex Otti, stated that the Labour party will sustain its push for a better Nigeria until it eventually gets the people’s mandate to provide quality leadership for the country.
He decried the precarious situation of Nigeria following the removal of fuel subsidy by the All Progressives Congress, APC -led Government.
He regretted that Nigerians, though living in the midst of plenty, had continued to wallow in abject poverty due to leadership ineptitude.
Abure promised that LP, as a credible opposition, would continue to be a watchdog for the masses until it eventually takes over power in future elections.
” We will not rest until we are able to take over government and provide the people quality leadership that will work for the country.
“How do you reconcile a situation where we export crude oil only to import refined products at high costs. Nigeria’s problem is bad leadership, and once we get it right, every other thing will be fixed.
” Today, you can see that Nigeria is not moving as it should. A bag of rice sells for N120, 000 while minimum wage is N30,000. A tuber of yam that previously sold for N500 is now N1200.
” Life has become very difficult in Nigeria; security challenges are enormous; inflation is very high; unemployment is increasing, and people now find it increasingly difficult to feed. This is the reality in Nigeria today under APC Government.
” We will provide a leadership that will fight poverty and fight hunger; a leadership that will empathize with the people and liberate them.
” We believe that a New Nigeria is possible. Nigerians are needlessly suffering in the midst of plenty. This country can become bigger if well managed.”
The LP Chairman who said he was being persecuted because he was leading a party that had uttered the political landscape in favour of the masses, however, vowed that no amount of intimidation or vilification would deter the party from providing credible alternative to the people.
”We were able to put up a formidable campaign in the 2023 general elections. For the first time, as opposition, we changed the political trajectory in Nigeria. We gave them a run for their money.
” Since after the election, we have not rested. We have had one crisis or the other – people being instigated within the party to make trouble with the leadership. You see the issues of Apapa, and the National Treasurer. But we have always surmounted them.
” All the allegations at the police have been resolved in our favour. We cannot be deterred. We will continue to do what is right to provide leadership.”