The Labour Party leadership has distanced itself from the personal assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s leadership style made by one of its members-elect, Amobi Ogah. Ogah, who represents the Isuikwuato-Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State, expressed his admiration for Tinubu’s intelligence and preparedness to serve the country after a meeting between the president and the lawmakers-elect for the 10th Assembly.
Despite Ogah’s support for the president and his emphasis on the country’s interest over party affiliation, the Labour Party and its supporters were displeased with his remarks.
In a statement titled “Hon. Ogah’s position on President Tinubu’s leadership, personal not party position,” the LP leadership expressed disapproval of Ogah’s action, particularly because the LP’s presidential candidate is currently seeking to reclaim his mandate at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
He said, “The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to an interview granted by one of our House of Representatives members-elect, Hon. Amobi Ogah wherein he expressed his satisfaction with the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that some of his colleagues have “agreed to go towards government decision” on the leadership of the 10th Assembly.
“Though as a first-time and newly elected lawmaker, the member-elect made the utterance which is clearly within his rights as an individual as enshrined in the laws of the land however, the party has a view quite different from what the honourable member was quoted to have said.
“As an individual, he does not have the mandate to speak for the party and therefore cannot claim to be standing on the platform of the Labour Party to do same, giving views that are diametrically opposed to what Labour Party stands for.
“Labour Party is presently in the tribunal hoping to retrieve our mandate which was expressively given to our presidential candidate on February 25, and every testament emanating from the tribunal points to the fact that Labour Party clearly won the election but was robbed. We have remained resolute to our belief that justice will be done and so soon.
“For the records, Labour Party has nothing against the personality of President Tinubu, however, we are challenging both the process and final outcome of the presidential election. We as a party insist that the route to His Excellency must be excellent and anything other than that amounts to a mockery of democracy.
“Finally, we urge millions of our party members who are irked and offended by Hon Ogah’s interview which has since gone viral to maintain their cool as the lawmaker has regretted his actions and has tendered an unreserved apology to the party.”
