Breaking: Police take over LP secretariat, handover of CoR is illegal – NWC
Adetokunbo Fakeye
Fierce-looking security operatives have taken over the National Secretariat of the Labour Party, LP in Abuja following intelligence reports that the embattled former chairman of the party, Dan Nwanyanwu, has allegedly recruited armed political thugs to forcefully remove the chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam.
Meanwhile, the party on Tuesday described as illegal the handing over of its Certificate of Registration by its former National Chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), many months after he had claimed that it was missing.
The LP in a communique issued at the end of a meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC) held in Abuja and signed by its National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam and Deputy National Secretary, Julius Abure, said Nwanyanwu is not a member of LP having resigned his membership on 5th of December 2014 to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to work for the re-election of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
The NWC in session commended the Nigerian police force FCT command for its prompt response to secure the party’s National Headquarters and also creating an enabling environment for a peaceful NWC meeting.
He said, “The NWC in session express shock and surprise at the inglorious conduct of the NLC. The House in session further notes that the NLC shouldfocus on workers welfare. There is no doubt as towhether the Nigerian workers are being exploited,impoverished, cheated and bearing the harsh economic and social conditions of Nigeria.”
Nwanyanwu ran into troubles when he told lies that the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of Labour Party (LP) was missing but later ‘found’ and handed it over to the NLC.
The LP had faulted the handing over of the CoR of the party to the NLC, describing his action as contemptuous.
The party’s lawyers Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru SAN, had in a letter to NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said that the receipt of the certificate was faulty as it has been reported missing by Nwanyanwu who handed it over even when he had resigned Sent from my iPad
The lawyer in the letter dated July 31 told Wabba that the party in 19 November 2014 has sued those parading themselves as the National Caretaker Committee of the party with same Nwanyanwu being the 4th claimant in the suit pending before a Federal High Court Abuja and which hearing has been adjourned till 30 September, 2015 by the court.
“We are to inform you that before now the Labour Party had reported to the Police that their certificate of registration is missing because Barrister Dan Nwanyanwu after leaving the party told the National Chairman of the party that the certificate of registration was missing. Following political activities leading to the 2015 General Elections, Barrister Nwanyanwu, for reason very personal to him left the Labour Party and joined the Presidential campaign team of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The whole world by your press coverage on both electronic and print media on 30 July 2015 is now aware that the NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba is now in custody of the certificate of registration of the Labour Party. What Barrister Dan Nwanyanwu handed over to you yesterday (Thursday) as the certificate of registration of labour party is a stolen property because Barrister Dan Nwanyanwu is no longer a member of Labour Party,” the lawyer said in the letter.
Speaking on the matter the National chairman of the party Alhaji Abdulkadir AbdulSalam, lamented that Nwanyanwu who organised the National Convention that brought the present leaderdhip of the party would be the one to try to destroyed it.
“He resigned as the Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party to join the PDP presidential campaign of former President Goodluck Jonathan. He told us that the certificate of registration was missing and we filed a report to the Police, how can he now hand over the missing certificate to a group whose activities we are challenging in court?”
The LP communique reads…
Communique issued at the end of a one day National Working Committee (NWC) Meeting held on the 4th of August 2015. The NWC deliberatedon the state of the Party, the just concluded general elections and the recent handing over of the Certificate of Registration of the Party to theNigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress by the immediate Past National Chairman of our Party Chief Bar Dan Nwanyanwu.
The NWC states inter alia:
1. The action(s) of both Chief Bar Dan Nwanyanwu and the NLC is an exercise in illegality, self help, an attempt to cow and derail the focused purposeful and result oriented National Leadership of our Party.
2. NWC notes that Chief Bar. Dan Nwanyanwu is not a member of our Party having resigned his membership on the 5th day of Dec 2014. Consequently his continued possession of the Party’s Certificate of Registrationand handing over of same to NLC/TUC is not only illegal but hypocritical.
3. The NWC in session express shock and surprise at the inglorious conduct of the NLC. The House in session furthernotes that the NLC should focus onworkers welfare. There is no doubt as towhether the Nigerian workers are being exploited, impoverished, cheated and bearing the harsh economic and social conditions of Nigeria.
4. The NWC reminded the NLC and Chief Bar. Dan Nwanyanwu of the pending suit on the subject matter and advise them to wait for the outcome of the action rather than resort to self help or illegality which amounts to contempt of court.
5. The NWC therefore call on our members and teaming supporters to disregard and discountenance the handing over of Labour Party Registration Certificate to NLC.
6. The NWC in session commended the Nigerian police force FCT command for its prompt response to secure the Party’s National Headquarters and also creating an enabling environment for a peaceful NWC meeting.
7. The NWC express worries over the re-emergence of the Boko Haraminsurgency and call on the Federal Government to tackle it headlong.
8. The NWC commended the leadership of the National Assembly for resolvingitsleadership crisis and call on them to make laws that will enhance the well being of the suffering masses of the country.
9. The NWC notes the harrowing experiences of the masses exacerbated by the fall of prices of crude oil and call on the Federal Government to come up with pro-activeand innovative ideas to diversify the economy in order to reposition it for optimal performance.
10. The NWC expressed confidence in the Leadership of Party and concludedthat it is only our party that has the answers to Nigerians social- economic problems giving the ideology, manifestoes and programmes of the Party. The NWC therefore call on the Nigerian people and masses who believe in genuine change to embrace the Party.
11. Conclusively the NWC resolved unequivocally to hold its National Executive Council meeting onWednesday 12TH August 2015.
Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam
National Chairman
