The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has responded to Peter Obi, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), over his recent comments that the “labour of our heroes past is all in vain.”
Akpabio advised Obi to first resolve the internal issues in his small party before aiming for the presidency of Nigeria.
Akpabio’s remarks came on Thursday during the Valedictory Session in honor of the late former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark. He stated that if Obi cannot address the ongoing crisis within the Labour Party, he lacks the moral authority to govern a larger, more complex country like Nigeria.
Obi, in his tribute on Wednesday during the Memorial Lecture and Day of Tribute for Chief Clark in Abuja, had praised Clark’s life of courage, sacrifice, and value. He also expressed concern about the current state of Nigeria, stating that the sacrifices of past leaders such as General Gowon and former President Jonathan were in vain. Obi pointed out the absence of protests in response to the recent fuel price hikes, contrasting this with the widespread protests during Jonathan’s time over similar issues.
He also criticized the Nigerian government, claiming that there is no democracy and lamenting the accusation that his criticism of the government amounted to “demonizing” the country.
In response, Akpabio remarked, “If you cannot resolve the crisis in your Labour Party, how can you solve the crisis of Boko Haram or other major national issues? I urge those aspiring to lead Nigeria to first address the issues within their own parties.”
He also took the opportunity to highlight his achievements as a former governor, saying, “I can proudly speak about the dualized thoroughfares in my city, the international hospitals, and the digitalized governor’s offices. I also initiated free and compulsory education and worked towards religious unity by sponsoring over 5,800 Muslims and over 12,000 to 15,000 Christians on pilgrimages to Rome and Jerusalem.”
Akpabio concluded by saying that while social media can be a tool for communication, it is largely unregulated and often used to sow division. He urged Obi and other presidential aspirants to first resolve their party issues before focusing on the national stage.
