The National crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) has raised concerns among Nigerians, and Bauchi State Chairman, Hussaini Saraki has shared his thoughts on the matter in an exclusive interview with Oluwatimilehin Owolabi. Saraki discussed the need for presidential candidate Peter Obi to extend an olive branch to the warring parties to prevent the crisis from affecting the party’s success in upcoming elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states among others.
When asked which faction he belonged to, Saraki explained that he belongs to the Labour Party under the leadership of Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa, the acting National Chairman of the party. He doesn’t think that the internal crisis will consume the party, believing that just like other parties, it is expected to have challenges.
The Bauchi State chairman explained that he is the only State Chairman with the Apapa camp, adding that the National Working Committee, which is led by Baba Apapa, had to suspend all other chairmen because their tenure had expired. Saraki advised that due process be followed, especially in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states elections, noting that being a lawyer, he has to be careful with his actions. Due to this court order, he said the primaries in those states cannot hold until another person, not barred by the court, constitutes the committee for conduct. He said Julius Abure refused to follow such advice and it could affect the Labor Party’s victory.
While some quarters believe that Apapa is being sponsored to cause disaffection in the party, Saraki clarified that he had nothing to show that he has been hobnobbing with the APC or President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
When asked if the crisis will affect Peter Obi’s chances in court, Hussaini Saraki explained that the case already has nothing to do with the tribunal since tribunal issues have been joined. He went ahead to say that Obi has not done much to resolve the crisis in the party, stating that as a leader, he should have called both parties and sought ways to resolve the issues. He further mentioned that Obi’s failure to resolve the micro-crisis in the LP could affect his chances in the complex problem of the Niger Delta, IPOB, or Boko Haram in the North.
Speaking about Peter Obi’s involvement in the LP crisis, Saraki believes that Obi should have brokered a truce between the warring factions since he is the party’s national leader. He condemned Obi’s open support for Abure, which is not helping matters in the party. He also noted that Obi’s failure to manage the LP crisis is a reflection of what might happen if he takes up a leadership position in the country.
Finally, Saraki advised Obi to resolve the crisis in the Labour Party by calling for an all-inclusive meeting to discuss possible solutions and way forward.
