Kenneth Okonkwo Parts Ways with Peter Obi and Labour Party, Citing ‘Decisive’ Reasons

Kenneth Okonkwo, who served as the spokesperson for the Labour Party’s presidential campaign in the 2023 election, has announced his departure from both Peter Obi and the party, providing clear reasons for his decision.

Okonkwo cited dissatisfaction with Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, and the ongoing internal issues within the Labour Party as primary factors for his exit.

He also took aim at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), criticizing both for leading Nigeria towards stagnation. According to Okonkwo, the leadership of the PDP and APC is “crippling Nigeria,” leaving the nation in economic distress.

In a letter released on Sunday, Okonkwo expressed that the APC’s actions have left the people feeling hopeless and driven to protest for their survival, as they “see no hope for the future.”

Kenneth Okonkwo on why he left the Labour Party, Peter Obi

1. I am committed, irreversibly, to a great Nigeria built on equity, justice, and fairness, where every citizen will be free and able to aspire to any position or level in life without regard to primordial sentiments built around ethnicity, religion, sex, or circumstances of birth.
2. It’s obvious that the APC or PDP, as presently constituted, do not have what it takes to lead us to a great Nigeria. Indeed their combined leadership is trying to cripple Nigeria as this blessed country is now down economically, politically, and in every other index, leaving the people with no other option than to protest for their survival. They can see no hope for the future.
3. Unfortunately, by our Constitution, we need a solid political party with solid grassroot base to be able to wrestle power from these kakistocrats and kleptocrats. We, therefore, need a decisive leader who will be able to build such a party of integrity and character from the grassroots because eventually, majority of the people that will populate a government will eventually proceed from the political party of the leader. A party is like a political tree that produces the fruit of the leadership cadre in government. A corrupt tree will never birth good fruits no matter the integrity and good intentions of the leader. Nigeria problems today come from lack of internal democracy in the parties which become a breeding ground for the production of incompetent and corrupt leaders in government.
4. We also need a decisive leader who will be selfless enough, in boldness and bravery, to secure our victory, when the people vote for such leader, because these corrupt and incompetent leaders are not willing to conduct free and fair elections and will always grab, snatch power from any weak and indecisive leader, and run away with it. Our judiciary has not proved to be equal to the task in preventing the emergence of electoral bandits who steal electoral victories at gunpoint in the public glare of everyone.
5. I am ernestly searching for such a leader who has the integrity and also the commensurate charisma and bravery to mobilise the people to sustain the victory, in the event that Nigeria votes for such a person. The time for calm down is over.
6. I recall how we suffered and risked all to liberate Nigeria from the shackles of these kakistocrats and kleptocrats in 2023 only for the victory to be stolen. It is obvious that the judiciary will not give us democracy because of abuse of the judicial process. The people must take their destiny in their hands. They must be willing to vote the right person as the President and must be willing to fight to ensure that the person is sworn in as President.