Rita Odafe
Senator Godswill Akpabio has advised Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, to address the internal issues within his party before aspiring to the presidency.
Akpabio made this statement on May 8, criticizing Obi for declaring that the sacrifices of Nigeria’s past heroes have gone unrecognized.
Obi had expressed during a memorial for the late Edwin Clarke on May 7 that the current state of Nigeria reflects this disregard for past sacrifices. He lamented the silence of those who previously protested against former President Goodluck Jonathan’s policies.
He questioned the absence of protesters who once voiced dissent when Jonathan raised fuel prices from N87 to N120 while the dollar traded at N900, asking if they had disappeared or become complacent.
“Having participated in the recent elections, I can attest to the courage and sacrifices made. Why then do we claim that the sacrifices of past heroes should not be in vain?” he noted, highlighting the disconnect with ongoing protests and issues.
Obi referenced Nigeria’s alarming statistics on malnutrition, with UNICEF reporting over 2 million children affected, questioning whether this reveals a failure in honoring past sacrifices. He asserted that Nigeria lacks true democracy and cited recent electoral issues in Edo as indicative of this.
Akpabio responded by affirming that Clarke’s contributions cannot be dismissed and suggested that Obi should focus on uniting his party first before seeking national leadership.
“If you can’t manage your own party’s issues, how can you handle major national challenges like Boko Haram?” Akpabio remarked, urging political leaders to work on their internal conflicts first. He also highlighted his own achievements in infrastructure and education during his tenure as governor.
Watch the Video Below:
Akpabio criticizes Peter Obi, stressing the need to resolve Labour Party issues before attacking Nigeria.
The individuals behind Labour Party’s crisis are now speaking out.
PO, you should handle this! pic.twitter.com/yOEniTSNdz
— Omega X D 𝕏 (@OmegaXDreams) May 8, 2025
