By Our Correspondent,
For the umpteenth times, the embattled Labour Party National Youth Leader, Comrade Eragbe Anslem has lamented the alleged injustice meted to him by the party’s National Chairman, Barr Julius Abure and need for the National Working Committee of the party to wade in, (in the interest of the party and suffering Nigerians who are looking up to the party to salvage the nation) and call a spade a spade rather than allow one “National Chairman” to probate and reprobate.
Comrade Eragbe Anslem while absolving himself of any wrong-doing, especially and particularly as related to forgery leveled against him, submitted that it was the “Deputy National Secretary, Kennedy Ahanotu (who is today the Acting National Youth Leader), that gave the ICT Director, Engr Umoh Utibe in the office of the National Youth Leader of Labour Party, a membership card that contained the signature of the late National Chairman (RIP) Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam (Baraden Paiko).
He stressed that it was the signature of the late National Chairman and National Secretary on that card that Kennedy Ahanotu provided that was SCANNED and used in place of the National Chairman and Secretary Secretary on the online Membership Cards and Support Groups Registration Acknowledgement and Certificate Feedback.
Though political pundits will say as in a warfare where all actions are fair and foul, in Politics too, banana peels are dropped along the political stairs to cause political havoc as well as political harakiri. However, whether the supplied card containing the late National Chairman’s signature was deliberately orchestrated and premeditated to give a dog a bad name and hang it or it was a no harm-meant error is what has not been unravelled and I believe that there lies the albatross of the suspension and the nucleus of lamentation by the National Youth Leader.
Furthermore, the suspended NYL who is also the Edo-North 2023 Senatorial Candidate of the party also said that the National Chairman had once threatened that he will suspend him and heaven will not fall. Now juxtaposing all of these, one can wonder if everything is going on well within the party hierarchy.
Political analysts have expressed worry over what they described as “conspiracy of silence” by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party and by extension the presidential candidate of the LP, Peter Obi to the alleged violation of the party’s constitution that the embattled NYL has raised consistently.
The numerous questions begging for answers are:
- Whose interest is the suspension serving?
- Why is it the same Kennedy Ahanotu who provided the SCANNED card to the ICT unit on the instruction of the National Chairman that is now appointed as the Acting National Youth Leader?
- Why are the NEC of the LP silent about this development?
- Where does this leave Peter Obi and why is he silent?
- Is Abure working in the interest of Obi-Datti and Labour Party or who?
- Are there no other party mechanisms or organ(s) that can be activated to look into the issues of injustice Comrade Eragbe Anslem is raising?
A party that wants to rule Nigeria should demonstrate and pay attention to issues of injustice but not to be adamant or not responding to issues raised.
See the submissions of the embattled NYL-LP below:
Barr Julius Abure
National Chairman
Labour Party (LP)
4th November, 2022
Attention:
National Secretary
Labour Party (LP)
Cc:
1: National Working Committee, NWC members
2: Mr Peter Obi
Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP)
3: Chairman INEC
4: Security Agencies: DSS, IGPMU, EFCC
5: Traditional authorities in Nigeria
6: Relevant Stakeholders
7: Media (Main Stream and Social)
8: Fellow compatriots
Dear National Chairman
DEMAND FOR UNDOING YOUR ILLEGAL “LETTER OF SUSPENSION FROM YOUR DUTIES AS THE NATIONAL YOUTH LEADER OF LABOUR PARTY” DATED 18TH OCTOBER, 2022
Aim:
THE IMPERATIVES OF THE LABOUR PARTY (LP) CONSTITUTION AS AMENDED 2019 AND THE NATIONAL YOUTH LEADER’S NATIONAL MOBILIZATION STRATEGY DEPLOYMENT FOR FORTY FIVE MILLION (45,000,000) VOTES FOR THE OBI-DATTI 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION VICTORY.
(1): Sequel to the suspension letter referenced above. I hereby put the Labour Party under your leadership on notice about the constitutional breaches and illegality perpetrated against me and my office as the National Youth Leader of Labour Party.
(2): Be it stated explicitly that your action has now constituted gross illegality and a violation of my rights and duties foisted by your “letter of suspension” and I hereby demand that you immediately withdraw your illegal letter against me forthwith.
(3): It has become explicitly clear to even the blind, that this action of Barr Julius Abure the National Chairman of Labour Party to illegally suspend me from my duties as the National Youth Leader of Labour Party is WITHOUT the consent of the National Executive Council, NEC.
(4): That the National Executive Council, NEC is the ONLY AUTHORITY vested with SUCH POWERS to determine the report of the disciplinary committee for which Barr Julius Abure, the National Chairman has now acted unilaterally and illegally.
(5): This illegality is a confirmation of the threat issued by Barr Julius Abure that he would “suspend me, comrade Eragbe Anslem and heaven will not fall”
(6): Now that Barr Julius Abure has violated the provisions of the Labour Party constitution 2019 as amended with impunity, I hereby DEMAND forthwith the immediate withdrawal of your illegal suspension letter against me.
(7): Sequel to my presentation of evidence to the disciplinary committee on 17th October, 2022, in defense against the five (5) allegations levelled against me, and the subsequent issuance of an illegal suspension letter which is INCONSISTENT with the Labour Party’s constitution, I thereby declare the action of Barr Julius Abure of NO EFFECT, NULL AND VOID and of NO CONSEQUENCE.
(8): That from the foregoing, comrade Eragbe Anslem remains the National Youth Leader of Labour Party and anyone claiming to be acting as the National Youth Leader of Labour Party should henceforth desist forthwith or be prepared to face LEGAL AND CRIMINAL charges going forward.
(9): That comrade Eragbe Anslem shall not hesitate to mobilize Nigerian Youth to resist vehemently Barr Julius Abure from perpetrating any further illegality against the office of the National Youth Leader of Labour Party.
(10): Find below relevant sections of the Labour Party constitution as IMPERATIVES THAT VOIDED the illegality of Barr Julius Abure National Chairman of Labour Party:
(11): FUND RAISING:
ARTICLE 9(3) MEMBERS OBLIGATION TO THE PARTY. PAGE 8
vii: Members are obliged to participate in the activities of the party e.g:
Election Campaigns,
Rallies,
Fund Raising Functions and
Meetings.
a): That comrade Eragbe Anslem did not and has not received any money on behalf of the Labour Party.
That comrade Eragbe Anslem rather hosted the Labour Party’s Fund Raising Account on the National Mobilization website and I hereby call for EFCC investigation of the listed Labour Party Accounts below and others not listed here:
(b): LABOUR PARTY CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT
ZENITH BANK
ACCOUNT NUMBER
1225832294
(c): LABOUR PARTY
Account number:
1213704059
(d): That comrade Eragbe Anslem is not a Signatory to the Labour Party accounts and NEITHER did I open any account(s) anywhere in Nigeria or in the diaspora for Labour Party.
(e): That I NEITHER forged the signatures of the National Chairman NOR the the National Secretary contrary to the media allegations orchestrated by the Labour Party Publicity Secretary COMRADE ARABAMBI ABAYOMI who shall be required to produce the evidence of forgery against me at the right time.
(f): That I have written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to investigate this matter and requested that all Labour Party accounts be closed for further investigation.
Pls Take Note-1:
(g): That in line with Article 9(3), Comrade Eragbe Anslem is obligated to raise funds for the office of the National Youth Leader, the Labour Party (LP) and for the 2023 Presidential and General Elections in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
(h): That I developed a policy document for National Youth Mobilization and requested through funds solicitation for funding support approval for up to Ten Billion Naira (N10,000,000,000) to prosecute the 2023 general Election for our presidential elections across the 774 LGA, 36 states and FCT subject to disbursement.
(I): That Barr Julius Abure subsequently set up a Fund Raising committee for which the National Woman Leader, National Treasurer and all the fund raising committee members and Barr Julius Abure are committed to receiving the same funds I sourced through solicitation with the approval of the National Chairman for which comrade Eragbe Anslem was accused of illegal fund raising.
(12): DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
ARTICLE 13 (2B) COMPOSITION, FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF PARTY ORGANS PAGE 13
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, NEC
Article 13(2B) page 14
xvii: To take disciplinary action against any member or organ of the party as it may deem fit in the interest of the party.
Pls, Take Note-2:
The Labour Party National Chairman, Barr Julius Abure acted unilaterally and illegally in exercising the POWERS of NEC in his ILLEGAL suspension of the duties of the National Youth Leader of Labour Party in violation of Article 13(2B)xvii page 14.
(13): ARTICLE 19 (2) PARTY’S DISCIPLINE
PAGE 33
S19(2): DISCIPLINARY ACTION
A: Disciplinary measure may be imposed by the Party against any of its members and the gravity of the Disciplinary measure shall depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of each case.
B: Disciplinary measures to be imposed shall take the form of:
1: Expulsion from the Party provided that the power to expel shall only be exercised by the National Convention.
2: Suspension for a specified period
3: Suspension and removal from office
4: De-barring from holding office
5: Fine
6: Warning (1st and 2nd)
C: Subject to (a) above, the Executive Council at the relevant level of the Party shall have the POWER TO DECIDE ON ANY OF THE Disciplinary measures, against any Party member as specified in the sub-section above”.
(14): ARTICLE 17 REMOVAL FROM OFFICES
PAGE 31
(1): The National Chairman of the party may be suspended or removed from office on a vote of No confidence passed by at least two-thirds majority at a National Convention convened solely for the consideration of such motion.
(11): Any other National Officer(s) of the Party may be removed by 2/3 majority of votes cast by members at a Convention or National Executive Council, NEC.
The Labour Party National Chairman also VIOLATED GROSSLY the same constitution he swore to protect and defend by acting unilaterally and illegally in a desperate attempt to suspend comrade Eragbe Anslem the National Youth Leader of Labour Party (LP) FROM MY CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES
Pls, Take Note-3:
Fellow compatriots, the above clause 9(2c) is THE DECIDER AND IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURE for ANY AND ALL DISCIPLINARY committee recommendations in the Labour Party’s constitution which was NOT complied with.
(15): ARTICLE 15 TENURE OF OFFICE
PAGE 30
1: All National Officers of the Party shall hold office for a period of four (4) years and shall be eligible for re-election.
(16): ARTICLE 16 PROHIBITION FROM HOLDING DUAL OFFICES.
PAGE 31
Subject to the provisions of this constitution, any member holding a party Office at any level shall be deemed to have resigned that position if he ASSUMES any of the following offices:
(1): President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
(11): The Vice President of Federal Republic of Nigeria
(111): Governor/Deputy Governor of a state.
(IV): Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
All other Political appointees may hold office not withstanding their holding a party office.
Pls, Take Note-4:
The Labour Party constitution permits all NWC members to hold offices and also serve as Senators, MHR, State Assembly, Ministers etc and COMRADE ERAGBE ANSLEM cannot be an exemption.
(17): ARTICLE 14 POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF OFFICERS. PAGE 26
14: NATIONAL YOUTH LEADER
PAGE 30.
a: Shall be responsible for mobilization of Youths for the attainment of party objectives.
b: Initiate and Implement strategic programmes and policies that would endear the Party to Nigerian Youth.
9c: The National Organizing Secretary shall Liaise with the National Women and Youth Leaders for harmonization of programmes for attainment of Party Victory at all elections. Page 28
Pls, Take Note-5:
The National Youth Leader’s strategic policy initiative and implement included:
(18a): Conception, design, development and deployment of ICT website solutions and mobile Application for delivery of forty-five million (45,000,000) votes for MR PETER OBI & SENATOR YUSUF DATTI for 2023 presidential and general elections victory through:
(18b): Registration of Support Groups with issuance of Registration Acknowledgement and Certificate Feedback with four unique identification number system
Pls, Take Note-6:
Find 899 Registered Support Groups as Batch -2 submitted to Barr Julius Abure National Chairman, NWC, Mr Peter Obi, PCC and the Support Groups by comrade Eragbe Anslem National Youth Leader of Labour Party
(18c): Registration of Eligible Voters with PVC and Issuance of Membership Cards feedback download with Six(6) unique identification number systems by the Office of the National Youth Leader Labour Party (LP) for determination of votes delivery:
a): _Presidential Election
(National I.D)
b): _Governorship Election
(State I.D)
c): _Senatorial,
d): MHR,
e): State Assembly
(State I.D)
_Ward I.D
_Polling Unit I.D
_VIN I.D
(18d): Registration of Diaspora Nigerians with and without PVC and Support Groups with issuance of feedback membership card and support group registration Acknowledgement.
(18e): Registration & Accreditation of Polling Unit Agents.
(18f): Situation Room for Election Results Collation and display Window.
(18g): Deployment of the Labour Party NG-APP Mobile Application and Control Room for Security, Sensitization, Monitoring and Polling Units National Mobilization activities 2023.
(19): On the allegation of forgery of the National Chairman and National Secretary signatures:
(A): That the Deputy National Secretary, Kennedy Ahanotu +2348035639423 whom Barr Julius Abure made the illegal Acting National Youth Leader, gave the ICT Director, Engr Umoh Utibe 08066302654 in the office of the National Youth Leader of Labour Party a membership card that contained the signature of the late National Chairman (RIP) Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam (Baraden Paiko).
(B): That it was the signature of the late National Chairman and National Secretary on that card that Kennedy Ahanotu provided that was SCANNED and used in place of the National Chairman and Secretary Secretary on the online Membership Cards and Support Groups Registration Acknowledgement and Certificate Feedback as download on the website below:
https://www.labourpartynationalmobilization.org.ng
(20): That ALL the disciplinary committee members and Barr Julius Abure shall be made to present their evidence to the world upon which they derived their committee report upon which Barr Julius Abure unilaterally and illegally issued a “Letter Of Suspension From Your Duties As The National Youth Leader Of Labour Party” Dated 18th october, 2022.
God be our helper
COMRADE ERAGBE ANSLEM
National Youth Leader
Labour Party (LP)
+234(0)8037009181
&
Edo-North 2023 Senatorial Candidate
Labour Party (LP)
LP National Mobilization Website
