The week began last Sunday with a verbal war between the Labour Party (LP) and a former spokesperson of the LP presidential campaign organisation, Kenneth Okonkwo. Mr Okonkwo, on 27 July, announced his exit from the party, saying his decision was because the party failed to inspire the brand of leadership that can solve Nigeria’s challenges.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He also accused the 2023 LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of failing to solve the party’s leadership crisis after the 2023 general election, which he lost to Bola Tinubu, now president.
In response, LP said Mr Okonkwo’s exit from the party did not come as a surprise to them. The party accused the former campaign spokesperson of being a “political mole.”
But reacting via a post on his X handle on Monday, Mr Obi said contrary to the party’s comments, Mr Okonkwo “remains my beloved brother and a trusted ally.”
The LP candidate stressed that having divergent opinions with Mr Okonkwo does not make them enemies.
Last Sunday, we reported that Governor Alex Otti of Abia State and the LP presidential candidate, Mr Obi, expressed divergent views on the then-proposed nationwide protest against economic hardship in Nigeria.
While Mr Obi declared his support for the protest and urged the government to dialogue with the protesters, Mr Otti said the organisers should let the government address their concerns rather than protest and that the protest could turn violent.
Like Mr Obi, Mr Otti is a member of the LP under which he was elected governor of Abia State in 2023.
Meanwhile, the residents of South-east have refused to participate in the protest.
Gov Otti to demolish multi-billion naira Government House amidst economic hardship
Last Sunday, we also reported that Governor Otti of Abia State said he would demolish the multi-billion naira Government House in the state, which he abandoned since he assumed office. Mr Otti has been running the government from his country home outside of Umuahia.
The administration of the former governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu, had commissioned the new Government House on 28 May, a day before the end of his tenure.
Mr Ikpeazu’s administration inherited the project – at Ogurute Layout in Umuahia, a few metres from the State Secretariat – from his predecessor, Theodore Orji, who initiated and built it up to the roofing stage.
The project is believed to have gulped billions of naira before completion.
But Mr Otti, at an event recently, said his administration would “pull down” the new Government House before the end of the year.
The governor said he would construct a “befitting” Government House.