Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, the running mate of the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, stated that neither he nor the LP is surprised by the current economic turmoil in Nigeria, as they had cautioned citizens against allowing the All Progressives Congress (APC) to take power in 2023.

The Vice Presidential candidate was quoted to have said this at the inaugural meeting of the LP Interim National Caretaker Committee, in Abuja.

This was contained in a statement issued by the committee, in Abuja, yesterday.

Baba-Ahmed who represented Peter Obi, at the event, said the Labour Party is ready to repeat and surpass the feat of 2023 in 2027 by producing a majority in the National Assembly and winning the presidential seat in 2027.

He said, “We didn’t have a crisis. We managed a transition which was a bit bumpy and that was it. I tell you, no other political party of our size could do that in the time and manner that we did.

“We are the political party who went all the way to the Supreme Court claiming our 10 million votes. They were only able to give us 6 million votes.

“So we are a force to contend with in Africa. What we’ve done has never been done before. When PDP came they had the military. We had nothing.

“We started, it was organic, It was us. It was Nigerian people. It was obedients, and we defeated two existing political parties to the best of us of our submission in the courts.

“What is more, we are buoyed by the fact that what we warned Nigerians of the failure of APC, the dangers of APC is happening. They are failing more on the Nigerian economy.

“They are destroying the security of Nigeria. Every day in the news you report it, our citizens are abducted. They are killed in hundreds of villages.

“We warned Nigerians this was going to happen. Desperate people took the victory of the Labour Party. What did they do with it?

“Our currency value again destroyed. Security destroyed. Hunger in the land. Fuel removal of subsidies managed very poorly, aggravated corruption continued lies and lies and lies”

“The former Federal lawmaker also clarified the leadership tussle in the party stressing that no governor removed Julius Abure, but the constitution of the party removed him because his tenure elapsed. He called on Abure and his team to sheath their swords and join hands with the Caretaker Committee to rebuild the party.

“Listen, my friend, no governor unseated, Abure, the constitution on unseated him, Abure time elapsed. Nobody unseated. As of today, Abure is our good friend and a loyal member.

“We want him back in the fold, we have roles for him to play. Likewise, all members of the former NEC and NWC, are welcome to come and join us. And continue to build the Labour Party. They are welcome”

Earlier, Chairman of the Labour Party National Caretaker Committee, Senator Nenadi Usman reassured members of the party of her Committee’s determination to rescue the party from the current challenges as well as restore and rebuild it to provide a veritable alternative platform for Nigerians.

She appealed to party members and supporters to make the necessary sacrifices for the party to take its pride of place in the political process.

He specifically called for sacrifice from members of the Caretaker Committee urging them to carry out their assignment with integrity in the interest of the party and the nation at large.

She promised the readiness of the Committee to lead the party to a path of reconciliation within the short time of its assignment.

Usman said, “My brothers and sisters, we are on a rescue mission, not just for the Labour Party, but I tell you for our dear nation Nigeria.

“The interest this committee has generated extends beyond party lines. The number of telephone calls I have received not just from Labour Party members, but people from other political parties who told me that if we get this thing right, we will walk together. So we have a huge task.

“Our party by the grace of Almighty God will become a platform for all disenfranchised and unhappy Nigerians. For people who are not happy with the way things are going, we are going to be the platform for them by the grace of God. Therefore, we must view this significant national assignment”

Earlier, deputy governor of Abia State Ikechukwu Emetu who represented Governor Alex Otti charged Committee Members to work for the growth of the Labour Party and shun acts that can be detrimental to the interest of the party.

Secretary of Committee, Senator Darlington Nwokocha said the committee works hard within its time frame to produce elected Ward, LGA, States and National Officers for the party.

He said, “We have started already, it is something we are working hard to achieve. The organs of the party at all levels will come on board soon, depending on the elasticity of what we are doing, but we want to do a good job, we will do the proper sensitization, advocacy, consultation, consensus building and so many other legitimate things from the grassroots to the top, to making sure that the proper people are being put in place of leadership, elected from the ward to local government, to states and the national convention.

That the Committee has hit the ground running by swearing Committee Members and setting up essential subcommittees to drive its affairs and mandate.