The THIRD Force, a coalition of young Nigerian politicians and professionals campaigning for the birth of a new Nigeria, has cautioned leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Labour Party, LP, to embrace peace in the run up to the 2019 presidential elections.
According to the group, in an e-mailed statement to The Trent on Sunday, September 23, 2018 in Abuja by its spokesperson Ishaq Abubakar, the Labour Party and NLC need to work closely together in harmony to dislodge the anti-Nigeria forces that were hell-bent on keeping Nigerians enslaved in 2019.
“We have watched with great disappointment the petty bickering within the Labour Party and the NLC over the past few months and wish to state that the party must unite and collaborate with all relevant labour stakeholders to present a unified front in the 2019 presidential elections. It is trite to say that a house divided against itself cannot stand.
“Today, the Labour Party has the singular greatest potential to mobilise Nigerians across religious and political divides. The return of former Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and the subsequent announcement of his presidential aspiration is noteworthy.
“The development had created a remarkable boost to the strength and viability of the Labour Party as a serious contender in the 2019 presidential polls. But the current crisis within the party and the NLC constitutes a threat to the ability of the Labour Party to provide the leadership that Nigeria needs as the nation prepares for the next general elections.
“If the party fails to put its house in order, thousands of young professionals and emerging leaders who have embraced the ideologies of the party, will be forced to exit in droves. There is equally no gainsaying the fact that credible Nigerian politicians like Mimiko who returned to the party would have no choice but to seek solace elsewhere. As at the last count, Nigeria has over 90 political parties.
“It is our hope that Labour leaders will begin to rethink their stand on the issues that have created unnecessary tension within the party and put Nigeria first”, the group said.
