ABEOKUTA – The National Publicity Secretary of Labour Party, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi has lampooned the Presidential candidate of the party, Mr. Peter Obi for describing the Saturday election as a fraud.
The LP scribe said Obi and others who condemned Edo Election as a fraud are part of Nigerians who failed to learn from history.
Arabambi in a statement signed in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital and made available to newsmen on Tuesday said both Obi and Gov. Alex Otti’s love for power grabbing, brash, abrasive approach and betrayal of the National Working Committee of the Labour Party under National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure and National Secretary, Alh. Farouk Umar Ibrahim sowed the seeds for failures and contributed in many ways to LP loss in the governorship election.
According to him, Mr. Obi who is championing equity and justice, supported Olumide Akpata who hails from Oredo local government with the outgoing Governor, Godwin Obaseki who is completing his eight years in office.
He highlighted that, Edo people wanted the next Governor to emerge from Edo Central which explains why APC and PDP took their respective candidates from there.
He noted that, Peter Obi deliberately ignored the wishes of the people for his inordinate and expansionist agenda to allegedly annex LP to his business empires.
The party, therefore, congratulated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting one of the fairest, freest and most peaceful elections in Edo State.
The Party also congratulated the Governor-elect of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the victory, saying that the victory was a well deserved one.
Arabambi said, “Whatever INEC does is correct. The problem with Nigeria and it’s leaders is that if it doesn’t suit us what other people do is wrong, but if it suits us even when it’s wrong, we described it as the right thing.
“Just last week, Peter Obi and Alex Otti were clapping for INEC who alleged that the tenure of Abure has expired. When they knew that we had a national convention in Nnewi, they knew we sent out invitation to INEC, Alex Otti sponsored the convention in Nnewi, Alex Otti Deputy represented the Governor in Nnewi, All the commissioners in Abia were in Nnewi, and yet because they wanted to forcefully, illegally take over the Party, they said INEC was correct to say Abure tenure has expired. When they themselves know that INEC was not truthful, INEC was acting illegally, today because they failed in Edo, INEC has done the wrong thing.
“Peter Obi and Gov. Alex Oti heavy high handedness, deceit, massive love for power grabbing, brash, abrasive approach and betrayal of National Working Committee of Labour party under National Chairman Barrister Julius Abure and National Secretary, Alh. Farouk Umar Ibrahim sowed the seeds for failures and contributed in many ways to LP loss in the governorship election. It is history now but an invaluable lesson for all those aspiring for high office.
“Mr Peter Obi who is championing equity and justice supported Olumide Akpata who is from the Oredo Local Government with the current Governor of Edo that is completing his 8 years.
“Mr. Peter Obi is aware that Both Governor Obaseki and Olumide Akpata are from same Edo South Senatorial District.
Mr. Peter Obi knew the People of Edo State wanted the Next Governor to emerge from Edo Central which explains why APC and PDP took their respective candidates from there and yet for his in ordinate and expansionist agenda to annex LP to his business empires, he closes his eyes against equity and justice.
“Peter Obi unnecessary rants where he highlighted the misuse of electoral technologies like IReV and BVAS with warning to those in power and complicit officials that their actions will ultimately lead to societal retribution is an unfortunate statement.
Mr. Peter Obi assertion and postulation that the damage INEC in the Edo Governorship Election on Saturday will inevitably take revenge on those responsible and affect their children in the future is an unacceptable Insult to the generality of Edo people who wanted equity and justice for Edo Central Senatorial District but which Obi gate decided to work against.
“We wish to remind Mr. Peter Obi, that the Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata, lost his unit not to the APC, but to the PDP who scored 41 votes, APC 19 votes and LP 32 votes. This shows that APC were more focus on winning Edo State Governorship elections, where Sen Adams Oshiomole Locked down Edo North, the Governor elect locked down Edo Central while Governor Obaseki, Mr Peter Obi, Labour party and Olumide Akpata left to split Edo South which ultimately was responsible for the APC candidate to secured 291,667 votes, while Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got 247,274 votes, and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata scored a scandalous 22,763 votes.
“There is no controversy now that Peter Obi political career as a man of integrity and honour is over. Ooffooneee
“And that’s why we are commending INEC for doing what they did in Edo, and henceforth, whatever INEC does is correct and we congratulate them for the feat.”
The Party also berated it’s Governorship candidate for alleging that the election was for the highest bidder, saying that Akpata has no moral right to say that.
“Olumide Akpata has no reason to complain about the election, buying of votes. Akpata bought all the Labour Party delegates during the primary, he gave them $1,000 each to get the Labour Party ticket. He bought over the Party structure, gave them vehicles, he even called Police to those who pointed out the abnormality. He bought the National Working Committee over, and took the ticket.
“It’s unfortunate now that those who have the bigger money now bought the higher ticket from him, now why is he complaining?
“That’s why Labour party National Chairman Barr. Julius Abure said in his last press statement that beautiful ones are not yet born in Nigeria. People complain when it does not suit them.”
The Party then called on Edo people to rally round the newly elected Governor, saying that Labour Party under the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure will continue to work in tandem with the constitution of the Party.
