Nigeria Content Online

Members of the Ondo
State chapter of the Labour Party have been divided over the recent
congresses conducted at various wards and local governments in the
state.

The crisis, NEXT
gathered, started when the old executive members from wards to local
governments were sacked without any notice from the state government.
Most of the affected members, who are foundation members of the party,
claimed they did not benefit from government before they were voted out.

They also accused
the state government of spearheading the congresses, knowing that they
have not been compensated for their efforts in building the party.

The aggrieved
members also alleged that most of the newly elected officers from ward
to local government levels were recent defectors from the Peoples
Democratic Party.

A statement issued
on behalf of the affected politicians, over the weekend, by their
spokesperson, Philip Jayeoba, said failure to address the issue will
spell doom for the party in the forthcoming elections.

Mr. Jayeoba noted
that if urgent step was not taken, the aggrieved members of the labour
party would defect enmasse to other political parties.

“I want to inform
Mr. Governor that some of us lost our children, jobs, and valuables to
ensure that LP won in the April 14, 2007 general elections. Despite all
our efforts during the election, we were neglected by the leadership of
the party,” he said.

“To do the worst,
they voted us out during the congresses; even some people were
handpicked and forced on some of us who started the party from the
scratch,” he added.

Accept your defeat

Mr. Jayeoba
appealed to the state governor and the leadership of the party in the
state to wade into the matter before it becomes uncontrollable.

“We want to implore
the leadership of the party to urgently take a step to address the
issue. The party leadership should not forget they promised that level
playing ground will be provided for all but the reverse is the case, as
some cabals have hijacked the structure of the party from ward level to
the state level,” he said.

The publicity
director of the Labour Party in the state, Seyi James, said the issue
of congresses should not generate controversy because every member is
free to contest for any position. He said the aggrieved members should
learn to accept defeat because the modalities for the congresses are
clearly stipulated in the party’s constitution.

“The modalities of the congresses are clear for every members of the
party to see. LP has plans for every member of the party and the entire
people of the state. Mr. Governor has promised to touch the lives of
everybody, but he cannot do it at once. Our people should realise the
fact that there is global meltdown, which has affected the country,”
Mr. James said