The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has declared the party’s readiness to offer a “vigorous, dynamic, and formidable opposition” to the Tinubu-led government to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
Abure gave this assurance over the weekend when he received the “Award of Honour and Character” from Chief Omonhinwin Aiyebeni in Lagos.
He mentioned that this recognition would motivate him to intensify his efforts and provide valuable services to the Labour Party and the Nigerian people.
Abure, recently affirmed by the Court of Appeal in Abuja as the chairman of the Labour Party, stated that while he does not typically value awards, this particular award holds significance for him due to the person who presented it and the circumstances surrounding its presentation.
His words: “It is not capturing powers that matters, but what you do with power; it is not winning elections that matters, but what you achieve with the victory is what is most important. If you capture power and cannot translate it into a better life for your people for the growth and development of the country, the economy, and all aspects of life for the people, then power is useless.
“This again has entrusted on us that onerous responsibility to be the voice of the people to provide a virile, resounding, vibrant opposition. The late Obafemi Awolowo said the soul of democracy is a vibrant and strong opposition. The national leader of the party, Mr. Peter Obi, has said the Labour Party will play the role of opposition, and indeed, the party will continue to play that role.
“I must state here clearly that all the progressive forces within the party and the nation must come together to fight the political oligarchy in Nigeria. Today, the country is not working, and we need every progressive force to be able to come together and join forces in order to redesign and reshape the economy and politics so that our human and natural resources can all be harnessed together for the well-being of the country.
“Nigeria has what it takes to be a very great nation, in terms of its human and natural resources. But leadership has been a major challenge for the country.”
Abure also stated that the current state of the country is a consequence of the decisions made by Nigerians during the last general elections.
He said, “I have often argued that it isn’t correct when people define leadership as a reflection of the people. But in the face of the events that have happened in the past few months after the 2023 general elections, I have gradually come to the realisation that followership is part of the problems facing the country.
“You can imagine a situation where the people know the source of their problems yet collect a paltry sum of money to vote for these same people. Our people celebrate people whom we know have not done well in governance. We celebrate injustice and corruption. The people congratulate the same people who work against them and their interests.”