The National Leadership of the Labour Party was fully represented yesterday, as the Lagos State Chapter of the Party welcomed into its fold, Hon. Francis Barthlomew Omowale Chima (OmoBarca) as well as thousands of his supporters. The event, described as a tripartite event, also featured a town hall meeting, where members of Labour Party were given an opportunity to ask the national leadership of the party some questions. It was concluded by the commissioning of the new Ajeromi Ifelodun LG Office for the party.
This was made known in a press statement made available to the press by the State Publicity Secretary, Adeola Onikoyi. According to him, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure frowned against the instigation of parallel structures by some party leaders, warning that such anti party activities must surely attract grave consequences.
The national chairman also revealed that elected members of the Labour Party have not lived up to their financial obligations to the party since assumption of office nearly two years ago. He made it known that elected members are supposed to be funding the party, but that has not been the case.
On the relationship between the Labour Party elected members and the party, Barrister Abure said, “it is a fact that they don’t respect the party, it is a fact that they don’t make contributions to the party. As I speak with you today, we have not received one kobo at the national, from those we elected to the national Assembly.
“The responsibility of running this party is still with the leadership of the party. As at today, we have 6 senators, about 30 Reps members and numerous House of Assembly members, but it will shock you to know that none of these lawmakers have contributed a dime to the party since their election in 2023.
“Let them go and ask other parties, it is those elected under their platform that fund the party. Today, most of them want to have control over their local government and for us to hand over their constituencies to them, yet they are not ready to work or partner with the party. Is it fair?.”
The National Chairman also addressed a wide range of concerns from the labour Party faithful including the upcoming local government elections as well as rewards systems within the Labour Party.
Significantly, after the town hall event, the Labour Party received into its fold a man described by the Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 governorship election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour as a “big fish”, Hon. Francis Barthlomew Omowale Chima popularly known as “OmoBarca” as well as thousands of his supporters. Hon. Chima was admitted into the LP fold by Barrister Abure alongside other National Working Committee (NWC) members of the party, the Lagos State Chairman Pst. Dr. Mrs. Dayo Ekong, Labour Party’s governorship candidate in 2023 general elections Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour (GRV) as well as other state executive members.
Pst. Dr. Mrs. Dayo Ekong, the State Chairman of the Party, made it known at the event that unity is important for the party to further extend its frontiers politically. She welcomed Hon. Chima into the party and urged all aspirants to take charge of their campaigns and make themselves visible. She concluded by saying “Let’s continue to build LP because that is the next ruling party in Nigeria.”
Hon. Chima, in his response said “I am defecting to Labour Party today given its national spread and seeing that they are willing to win and I want to win, there is difference between half and whole.
“If I am not accepted in Labour Party I don’t think the National chairman will come down here to identify with me. His coming is a sign that I am accepted in the party.”
The event ended with the commissioning of the new Ajeromi Ifelodun Party secretariat by the National Leadership, the State Executives as well as OmoBarca and thousands of his supporters.
