By Jude Michael
The Obedient Movement, a political pressure group that supports the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 Election, Mr Peter Obi, has attacked the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio over remarks he made about Obi not being able to handle the crisis in Labour Party, while hoping to rule the country.
The Obedient Movement in a press statement released on Saturday, May 9, and made available to newsmen in Awka by the group’s Director of Strategic Communication and Media, Nana Kazaure, accused Akpabio’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind the LP Crisis by shielding sacked National Chairman of LP, Mr Julius Abure, with state sponsored security.
Kazaure said it was not a wonder that the 10th Senate being led by Akpabio had been described as the worst in Nigeria’s history because his character as a man who lacked discretion in speaking and self-control in acting was already in public domain.
Part of the release read: ‘It is well known that the President of the 10th Senate is not particularly renowned for the substance or depth of his public utterances. However, we did not anticipate that he would descend to such an embarrassing low.
‘For the benefit of Senator Akpabio, the internal issues within the Labour Party were duly taken before the courts by stakeholders of the party under the leadership of Mr. Peter Obi.
‘The Supreme Court – the highest court in the land – gave a clear and unambiguous ruling, affirming that the individual currently parading himself as the party chairman is doing so illegally.
‘Rather than comply with the court’s directive, this usurper has been emboldened by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which continues to provide him with state security cover. These actions have rendered the Senate President’s insinuation that Mr. Obi is
overwhelmed by intra-party crises not only disingenuous, but also hypocritical.’
Kazaure added that it was deeply ironic and unbecoming for Senator Akpabio to publicly highlight a situation his own party had played a key role in manufacturing and sustaining. If anything, he maintained, Akpabio’s comments served only to advertise his complicity in what he described as the artificial and externally-driven disruptions to the Labour Party.
‘There is, in fact, no crisis within the Labour Party. What persists is the shameless interference of the APC – Senator Akpabio’s party – in facilitating the illegal tenure of Julius Abure, despite the clear ruling of the Supreme Court,’ Kazaure said.
The movement described Obi as a man who had a sterling record of achievements in public office, which, it said, Akpabio could neither controvert, nor diminish.