By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) on Tuesday, advocated immediate repositioning of Labour Party (LP) as a genuine mass working people party, which is run democratically and with a socialist programme.
A statement by the party’s acting National Chairperson, Abiodun Bamigboye and National Secretary, Chinedu Bosah, asked the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to ensure the needed repositioning of Labour Party
SPN in the statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, emphasized that there is the need to rebuild Labour Party in line with genuine mass working people policies.
It stressed that the repositioning should be done in a way that ” candidates who promote capitalist neo-liberal agenda and other anti-poor policies cannot use the party to seek political office”
” It is apposite to note the fact that the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, who was officially endorsed by the NLC, openly supported the same naira confiscation policy which the NLC is currently fighting against. This is in addition to his resolve to remove fuel subsidy if elected contrary to the position of the NLC”, it said.
SPN added, ” This shows that despite claims to the contrary, Peter Obi does not fully embrace the even the limited Workers’ Charter of Demands which was the basis for the erstwhile Ayuba Wabba NLC leadership declaration and mobilisation of workers in support of his presidential candidacy”.
” This should be part of efforts which are needed towards rebuilding the LP as a genuine mass working people party which is run democratically and with a socialist program.This shows that despite claims to the contrary, Peter Obi does not fully embrace the even the limited Workers’ Charter of Demands which was the basis for the erstwhile Ayuba Wabba NLC leadership declaration and mobilisation of workers in support of his presidential candidacy”.
The party maintained, ” For us in the SPN, we believe it is incongruous and contradictory for the NLC to be organising strikes and protest against anti-poor policies while the Labour Party’s presidential candidate supports the same policies” adding, ” a genuine presidential candidate of a real workers party must not only be opposed to anti poor and anti worker policies, he or she will serve as a tribune to ventilate issues that affect the working people and would be prepared to join the labour movement in struggle against such policies militating against the wellbeing of the poor masses”.
It noted ” to correct this disharmony in the programmes of the LP/its candidates and the labour movement, we urge the NLC and TUC to convene a working class and youth summit in the aftermath of the 2023 general elections in order to review the elections, take stock and draw up a common programme of action to unite the party and the labour movement in struggle to liberate the working people”.
