*As party remains unsettled over composition of PCC
*National Publicity Secretary threatens court action
*Party threatens sanction on publicity secretary
Less than five weeks after the inauguration of its presidential campaigns council, Labour Party was yet to find its foots on the ground over allegations of corruption and the composition of its presidential campaigns council raised by some prominent members of the party.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Arabambi Abayomi, who spoke with journalists yesterday has not only alleged a grand conspiracy against him by the Doyin Okupe led PDP group in the party, he has also vowed to expose him (Okupe) and other members of the party involved in the scandal with substantial evidence of divertion of funds meant to prosecute the party’s presidential election.
Meanwhile the party has threatened to wield punitive actions against the national Publicity Secretary for working working against party’s progress ahead of 2023.
Recalled that the Ogun State Chapter of Labour Party had in separate press briefing held last week, passed a vote of no confidence on the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure and the National Organising Secretary of the party who also doubled as the General Secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council, Chief Clement Ojukwu.
The Ogun State LP further demanded the immediate dissolution of the entire party’s Presidential Campaign Council, over alleged lopsidedness in its composition, stressing that the composition of its PCC did not reflect the federal character, unlike what was contained in the constitution of the party.
However, in separate statement released by another faction of the party yesterday and signed by the Ogun State LP Deputy Chairman
Engr. Jagun Lookman (Ogun East), Chief Ope Ijaola, Deputy State Chairman (Ogun Central) and Prince Oluwatosin Meadows
State Organising Secretary, the faction described the position of the the Arabambi’s led group of the state as “a sinister move of some disgruntled elements to de-market and discredit the growing popularity of the Party in Nigeria”.
In his response, the National Publicity Secretary, Arambambi Abayomi, dismissed the statement, describing the group as faceless individuals being sponsored.
Arabambi who has distanced himself from the activities of Labour Party since the inauguration of the party’s presidential campaign council, disclosed that his grouse was with former presidential spokesperson, Dr Doyin Okupe, who he accused of importing corruption into Labour Party.
Arabambi lamented that his life was under threat since he challenged Okupe to refund the N50m former president Goodluck Jonathan gave to Labour Party during the 2015 presidential election.
He words: “They are not recognize members of the party. They are faceless group who did a press conference. There was no photograph, no video. Someone just sat at the comfort of his room and wrong rubbish.
“This is my 13 years in Labour Party. People can not just come into the party and in four months they will be telling us that they know more than us in the party..
My life is under threat by Dr Doyin Okupe, my life is under threat by Ojukwu. I have the right to protect my life that is why I dissociated myself.
“The main cause of the matter is Doyin Okupe. We ,(LP) supported Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, and Jonathan gave Labour Party N50m that was diverted by Doyin Okupe.
“These were the issues that I raised and concerning some documents and all of them now said, let us come against this guy because I told him that he has to refund that money. Okupe and others never knew providence would bring us together in Labour Party. They didn’t expect it.
On issues surrounding the composition of the party’s presidential campaign council and the claims of Okupe usurping his position as a the party’s publicity secretary, he maintained that Okupe and Ojukwu smuggled names of their concubines, family members, gate men into the list “so that they can be siphoning party money”.
Arabambi who vowed to seek redress in court to reclaim his constitunal responsibility in the party, said there was the need to investigate Okupe’s recent lavish life style.
He said: “As I speak to you Okupe has purchased two brand new range rovers worth N65m each. This was Okupe that was using an old sienna before he came to Labour Party. Okupe has not given N1 to Labour Party ever since he joined the party. He has, he should provide evidence.
“This was the reason why he moved against us the first time. This why I challenge their actions. That is why he connived with the national chairman.
“I am the National Publicity Secretary, the Constitution of the party is expressly cleared that I shall handle all promotion, advertisment, campaign banners and anything that has to do with publicity. It’s there in the constitution.
“But it was just a gang-up of which I am still going to challenge in the court. When you cannot abide by your own constitution, something is fishing.
“They said I will not come back alive if I come to any of the campaign, so I have to run for my dear life. I know Doyin Okupe to be a very dangerous man. I have to be very careful because this is a man whose life is finished in the PDP. He came to Labour Party with nothing. Not even with one member from his ward. All the Executives of his ward still remain with the Ogun State chapter of the PDP. I will not be deterred. I am serious member of the Labour Party and I cannot be pushed back by anyone.
“There is serious corruption going on in Labour Party that we are going to have a day for in court.
They threatened me even in the presence of the national chairman of the party. Everything that’s happening there I know.
When asked if he has evidence to back his claims, Arabambi said, “I am a senior member of the party, I have every evidence with me and I am going to the court to challenge all these illegalities.
Meanwhile Labour Party national headquarters has issued a warning to the National Publicity Secretary, Arabambi, saying it would not hesitate to activate penalty measures against him for his underperformance in office.
In a letter personally signed by the National Secretary of the Party, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the party told Arambabi expressed worries over his recent public conduct which the party said it would no longer condole.
The letter reads in part: “Dear Mr. Arabambe, Your recent behaviour and public conducts in matters related to party affairs have come to the notice of members of the National Working Committee and indeed members of the National Executive Council of the party with dismay.
“While emphasizing that some of your unsatisfactory performance has demonstrated your inability or unwillingness to conform to expected standards of public relations officers and spokespersons of the party.
“It is therefore necessary to initiate this Corrective Action to cause you to understand that not only are your behaviours unacceptable, but also that we are at a point where such performance and unacceptable conduct can no longer be tolerated.
“You have been verbally counseled on numerous occasions concerning your public performance and conduct in relation to party affairs.
“You are hereby advised that disciplinary action may be taken if your behaviour and conduct do not improve and conform with the party’s constitution and code of conduct,” the letter stated.
