Joe Ajaero: Why we formed Labour Party

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero has said that they owe no one apology for forming the Labour Party, LP.

The LP emerged one of the strongest political parties in the country in the last general election.

The LP made inroads into the National Assembly, winning six Senate seats and 34 House of Representatives seats.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television, Tuesday night, Ajaero said the party was formed to allow the ordinary Nigerians contest and win elections, adding that even Peter Obi, who was the party’s standard bearer, does not belong to any labour union.

“We don’t have any apology for forming the Labour Party. The Labour Party is organised and formed by Labour Unions all over the world…” he said.

“Within that time when Adams Oshiomole was contesting for governorship, the Labour Party aligned with those that formed the APC, AD, the ACN then to sponsor Adams for him to have a joint ticket and it wasn’t a crime if the Labour Party decides to form an alliance with the other political parties.

“Thereafter, we changed to and decided to have our own political party and today we’re not in alliance with any political party. And we don’t have an apology for forming a political party that would be beneficial to all the ordinary Nigerians …all the members of the Labour Party are not workers.

“They’re not members of trade unions. People in the National Assembly and even the Presidency are not members of trade unions. The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party is not in any way related to any Labour union.

“Any Nigerian that wants to belong to the Labour Party is free. The reason we formed the Labour Party is that Nigerian workers under the minimum wage cannot buy form and contest elections under any of the political parties be it APC or PDP.

“That’s why we say we must have our own political party where a messenger, clerk can contest elections and win. Even Okada riders are in the National Assembly today through the Labour Party. If anybody is having any doubt about it, the aim of forming the LP has been achieved,” he added.