LABOUR PARTY INAUGURATES 1,453 MEMBER PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL, CALLS FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM NIGERIANS

By Joy Okosieme

The Labour Party( LP) on Friday in Abuja inaugurated its 1,453 members strong Presidential Campaign Council.
The LP whose candidate in the Nigerian presidential election billed for February 25, 2023, Peter Obi, has rekindled the interest of Nigerian youths in politics, is seeking to upend the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) party from power.
The APC’s seven and half years in power have witnessed a worsening of the security challenges confronting Nigeria with terrorists, bandits and kidnappers having free reins in many parts of the country.
Inaugurating the PCC on Friday, LP chairman, Julius Abure urged them to see their membership of the body as call to national service. He said the seriousness of the task before was underscored by the fact that there were against parties that had appropriated the national wealth for personal use noting that it was their duty to ensure that these parties did not return to power in 2023.
The leadership of the rejigged PCC remained unchanged with Allhaji Mohammed Zarewa remaining as Chairman and Doctor Doyin Okupe retaining his position as Director General.
Other members include Oseloka Obaze, a former Secretary to the Anambra State Government (Deputy Director-General and Campaign Manager), and Yusuf Maitama (Deputy Director-General (North).
Also in the council are Dr. Yunusa Tanko (Chief Spokesperson), Clement Ojukwu (Secretary), Denzel Ketenbe (Deputy Director-General, South), Isaac Balami (Deputy Campaign Manager 1), and Mrs. Eyitemi Taire (Deputy Campaign Manager 2).
Abure appealed to Nigerians for financial support to prosecute the election noting that his party did not have as much resources as the other leading parties in the race, which dipped their fingers in the national coffers and are deploying them for the election.
“Presidential election is very expensive, very costly. Our slogan is that we don’t give shishi, but this time we have to look for money. The presidential candidate cannot fund the campaigns alone. The greatest challenge we are likely to have in this campaign is funding.
“Our presidential candidate was a governor in Anambra, he is the only governor known not to have embezzled money. He kept N75 billion in the Anambra State account and is the only governor not on pension.
“The point is that he cannot fund the presidential campaigns alone. Therefore, all of us in this council have the responsibility to join hands with the party to see how we can raise funds for this campaign”, Abure said.