By Lanre Oloyede
Prospects of the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, in the 2023 general elections got a boost Thursday as the party inaugurated an 11-man diaspora Committee to oversee coordination of supports from Nigerians in diaspora for the party and its candidates in next year poll.
Performing the inauguration at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Labour Party National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, charged the committee to be accountable to
Nigerians as the candidate they are projecting for the number one job in Nigeria has inspired a movement of Nigerians who want to take their country back with accountability as his watchword.
Abure revealed that the committee was conceived as a result of demands by Nigerians abroad who were yearning to be part of the raging movement back home to take the country back from those who have pillaged it over the years.
“The 2023 general election is a special electioneering year because it is an election that all Nigerians both home and in Diaspora are fully involved in, to see the birth of a New Nigeria
“The parties has enjoyed overwhelming supports from Nigerians across the world and even non Nigerians alike.
“This has resulted in a situation where there is clamour for the party to establish chapters across the world.
“There has also been the clamor from people in the diaspora who want to contribute to the growth and development of the party.
“It is arising from these calls and the necessity to have these activities coordinated that the party inaugurated the committee in response to the yearning of supporters of the Labour Party,” he quipped.
Abure further explained that the committee was saddled with the mandate of sourcing for funds to prosecute the 2023 presidential target of the Labour Party and its candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and to recommend for the national chairman the creation of the Diaspora chapters.
According to him, the committee would among other things coordinate the activities of the Diaspora as well as facilitate creation of the Diasporas Chairman.
The committee which has Hon. Amadichi Chibuike as it’s chairman and Mr. Jeffrey Ukhuregbe Ikhine as it’s secretary has the following terms of reference which included monitoring the activities of the Diaspora chapters and reporting to the national chairman, organized fundraising activities and donations to the party after liaising with the party, facilitate travel arrangements for party officials and to perform any other functions thereto connected.
The Labour Party National Chairman decried the prevailing socio-economic situation in the country, stressing that that ruling party has failed in all ramifications.
He said it has become a consensus that Nigeria is not working currently, adding that the country is almost a failed State, of which he said over eighty million Nigerians are living in poverty.
According to him, the welfare of every citizen is the responsibility of the government, adding that where such a government has failed to deliver such responsibility amounts to failure in governance.
In his remarks, Chairman, Diaspora Committee, Mr Chibuike Amadichi, thanked the party for the privileged to lead the committee.
Amadichi said that the 2023 is a special electioneering year because it is an election that all Nigerians both home and in Diaspora are fully involved in to see the birth of a new nation .
He said: “Few months ago, they said Labour Party had no structures, but today, Labour Party is not only building structures nationwide in Nigeria, but also advancing its frontiers beyond the shores of Nigeria.
“This diaspora committee will work tirelessly to reposition our great party and build a new partnership with our people in diaspora especially in the major countries of the world like USA, UK, Canada, Germany, South Africa just to mention but a few.
” I can say without mincing words that our people in diaspora are willing to identify with Labour Party and also ready to support the party and its presidential candidates.
“I want to assure our Nigerians in diaspora that come next year 2023,Labour Party will form a new government that will midwife a new Nigeria with a man of proven integrity and competent as the president.
