RE: RESPONSE TO OLUCHI OPARA’S BASELESS REBUTTAL – A CALL FOR TRUTH AND UNITY IN THE LABOUR PARTY

RE: RESPONSE TO OLUCHI OPARA’S BASELESS REBUTTAL – A CALL FOR TRUTH AND UNITY IN THE LABOUR PARTY

Our attention has been drawn to a recent public rebuttal made by Ms. Oluchi Opara, former Treasurer of the Labour Party, in response to a recent publication, where His Excellency Faduri Joseph described the current situation within Labour Party as a poetic justice.

It is disappointing and indeed shameful that a former national officer of a party—one who was present during the crucial period leading up to the 2023 elections—could publicly claim ignorance of the involvement and pivotal role played by His Excellency Faduri Oluwadare Joseph in reviving the Labour Party in 2022 as well as he being a presidential aspirant under the party. Her statements, riddled so riddled with misinformation. And for one who is supposed to be in charge of treasury of a party to claim not to know about the record of the payment made by an aspirant for Expression of Interest and Nomination Form is really so funny. Even Lai Mohammed will not even tell that kind of lie. However if she wants to claim not to remember what was obvious, then we will advise her to ask herself why Faduri was compelled to step down for His Excellency Peter Obi during the Labour Party Presidential Primary in 2022 in Asaba, Delta State. Can one who was not an aspirant be compelled to step down for another aspirant in a political party primary election? 

In addition to other records, pictures taken during the 2022 Asaba LP presidential primary elections are still available. In fact, one of those pictures is where Mr Faduri Joseph and Prof Pat Utomi who where presidential aspirants both lifted up Mr Peter Obi's hand after they stepped down to allow him emerge as the presidential candidate of Labour Party for the 2023 presidential election.

Well, her claim also clearly portrays a level of detachment and unseriousness that plagued the party’s leadership during her tenure. One would expect a person who held the sensitive position of Treasurer to have been well-informed. Instead, Ms. Opara’s statements portrays her as so uninvolved and unaware of the party’s inner workings. And if that is what she is trying to portray, then it is even more unfortunate that she failed to consult relevant stakeholders or official party records— or the former National Secretary, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi—before making such misleading claims regarding the presidential aspiration of Faduri Joseph who paid for both his Expression of Interest and Nomination Form under the same Labour Party and was at Asaba with massive supporters ready for the presidential election primary before he was compelled to step down for Peter Obi to allow Obi emerge as the presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 presidential election. More pictures and videos that are still on internet space that can even be easily accessed by any lay man not to talk of a former national treasurer is not only ridiculous but shameful. 

Hence, contrary to her assertions, His Excellency Faduri Oluwadare Joseph (Fadojoe), was indeed a presidential aspirant of the Labour Party in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections. And his engagements were well-documented across major national media outlets including Arise TV, Channels TV, AIT, etc, and multiple leading Nigerian newspapers. Also it was through his intervention and active mobilization that the Labour Party was brought back to national relevance before Mr. Peter Obi eventually joined the race just 5 days to Asaba primary a fact the whole world knows.

We must also remind Ms. Opara that building a credible party requires honesty, accountability, and informed participation—not pettiness, misinformation, or tribal sentiment and publicly lieing.

ON TRIBALISM AND THE OBEDIENT MOVEMENT

We must also address the wave of unprovoked attacks from some individuals who identify as members of the Obidient Movement—many of whom are my fellow Igbo brothers and sisters. While we appreciate the energy and passion that drove the movement, it is important to understand that the Labour Party is not, and must never be, an ethnic or regional party.

One of the critical mistakes we made in 2023 was allowing the public perception that the party was pushing an "Igbo agenda." This alienated a broad base of national support. It must be stated clearly: the Obidient Movement was born out of the Rescue Movement for a New Nigeria, which Mr Faduri Joseph helped to initiate and even go further to register in the United States alongside patriotic Nigerians from all ethnic groups in the diaspora.

Attacking other aspirants or labelling them as opposition agents will only weaken our resolve and fracture the unity we so desperately need. His Excellency remains one of the few consistent and credible opposition voices against the APC government, through the platform of the Rescue Movement—a platform that has pushed for positive reforms and has been instrumental in compelling the government to act on critical issues.

A CALL FOR UNITY AND NATIONAL INTEREST

On this note, we want to call on all Labour Party leaders, stakeholders, and supporters to put aside personal egos, ethnic sentiments, and petty divisions. If we truly seek to unseat the current government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 and rescue Nigeria, then we must begin by reconciling within our own party.

A house divided against itself cannot stand. We need one party, one voice, one vision—and that vision must be built on truth, accountability, and national interest above all else.

We urge Ms. Oluchi Opara to retrace her steps, seek out the truth, and issue a public apology for her false and reckless statements. Only then can we move forward together to reposition our party for national leadership.

Signed,

Rev Emmanuel Olorunmagba,

National Media Director, Rescue Movement for New Nigeria aka 

Rescue The Vulnerable Initiative.

For and on behalf of Rescue Movement Media Team.