In a fiery press statement released on Democracy Day, former Labour Party presidential aspirant and founder of the Rescue Movement for New Nigeria, Faduri Oluwadare Joseph — popularly known as Fadojoe — launched a scathing attack on Mr Peter Obi, accusing him of being the architect of the Labour Party’s ongoing internal crisis.
The strongly worded release, titled “Blame Yourself, Not Others, for Labour Party’s Failure — A Message to Mr Peter Obi,” criticised Obi for what Fadojoe described as a “habitual blame game” and a failure to accept responsibility for the party’s decline since his arrival in 2022.
“From blaming the current president to party leadership and even external forces, Obi seems to be pointing fingers everywhere except at the man in the mirror,” Fadojoe wrote.
The statement, which came amid growing discontent within the party ranks, alleged that Obi’s entrance into the Labour Party, once united and orderly, marked the beginning of division and chaos. According to Fadojoe, this disunity played a major role in the party’s underperformance during the 2023 general elections.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand,” he emphasised. “When Obi joined the party in 2022, the Labour Party was united. But since his arrival, crisis has rocked the party from top to bottom.”
Taking a sharp jab at Obi’s leadership credentials, Fadojoe questioned how a man unable to manage internal party conflicts could be trusted with the complexities of national governance.
“If Peter Obi cannot resolve party-level crises, how will he manage inter-state conflicts, economic restructuring, security turmoil, and national reconciliation?” he asked.
The press statement further attacked Obi’s political journey, criticising his movement from APGA to PDP and later to the Labour Party and describing it as a pattern of opportunism rather than statesmanship.
“Obi did not build APGA — the platform that gave him his first opportunity. He deserted it when he should have grown it into a national party. Instead, he keeps seeking the easiest path.”
Fadojoe also accused Obi of abandoning Barrister Julius Abure, the Labour Party chairman, with whom he had once worked closely during his presidential campaign. He suggested that the fallout between the two contributed to the party’s deterioration. He claimed the alleged shady financial deals now haunting the party were executed in the service of Obi’s ambition.
“Leadership requires loyalty, responsibility, and the will to lead — especially in difficult times,” he said, noting that Obi had failed.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Fadojoe declared that Obi is not qualified to lead any coalition or national movement.
“That position must be earned through proven leadership, party unity, and capacity, not mere popularity or public sympathy,” he stated.
Recounting his own role in reviving the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 elections, Fadojoe claimed that Obi merely benefited from public frustration with the major parties — APC and PDP, and was not, as some believe, a political saviour.
In a passionate appeal to Nigerians, especially those in the diaspora, Fadojoe called for a generational shift in leadership and urged citizens to stop waiting for a saviour and instead rise to become one.
“Nigeria will rise again. We will rebuild. We will recover. We will overtake,” he declared. “The fight for Nigeria’s future begins with you and me.”
The statement has already stirred reactions on social media and among political commentators, with many interpreting it as a clear signal of an emerging power struggle within the Labour Party, and a potential reshaping of the opposition ahead of 2027.
Whether Peter Obi will respond to these pointed accusations remains to be seen, but the message from Fadojoe is clear: the Labour Party’s future cannot be entrusted to those who “run from responsibility but chase power.”
