A group, the Concerned Labour Party Members (CLPM) has staged a protest at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, demanding the resignation of Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman.
Similarly, the group also called for the resignation of the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, from both the NLC and the Labour Party.
The protesters laid siege at the LP’s national headquarters in Abuja, chanting solidarity songs, as they were prevented from gaining access to the party secretariat by security operatives posted in the area to maintain order.
Addressing newsmen during the protests, former National Vice President of NLC, Comrade Isa Tijjani, said their resignation had become necessary to bring in new faces, fresh ideas, and new people with democratic ideals, honour, and ideological clarity.
Tijani stated that the image of the Labour movement has been tainted with ethnic coloration thereby corrupting the democratic space.
“This has not only threatened our existence, but tarnished our name and dragged us to the derogatory side of the good name hitherto created by patriotic labour personnel,” Tijjani said.
He noted that the reputation of the Labour movement has been tarnished by corruption and ethnic biases that threatening its existence.
“I am sure we are all aware of the problems created by our leaders which are becoming protracted, and a shame and burden on the body of our beloved party.
“Issues involved have grown from ideological concern to personality clash (that is) giving bad name to the image of the party and the Nigeria Labour Congress. These are bodies created to fight for the rights of workers and the generality of the common people.
“We are grounded with facts between the creation of these bodies stemming from protecting the interest of workers to widening the democratic space through the participation of the working class which unfortunately has turned into something else.
“The image of the Labour movement has been tainted with ethnic coloration to corrupt the democratic space. This has not only threatened our existence but spoiled our name and dragged us to the derogatory side of the good name hitherto created by patriotic labour personnel.
“In the aftermath of the foregoing, we had to mobilize members from across the country to participate in returning to decorum and patriotism of the party. We also want to urge active members of the Congress to join hands together with us for restoration and returning to the path of glory both in the party and the Labour movement,” Tijjani said.
