The Labour Party (LP) has described as reckless and ignominious former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s claim that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government offered a N50 million bribe to the leadership of opposition parties.
This came after APC denied the allegation and called Atiku Nigeria’s most prolific electoral litigator.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, denied ever receiving a kobo from any individual, group, organisation, or government entity that is not a member of the party.
Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, had alleged during a national conference on strengthening democracy in Abuja that the APC bribed opposition party leaders with N50 million each to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.
Expressing “shock and disbelief” over the allegation, the LP criticised Atiku for making what it described as a wild, unguarded, and baseless claim.
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It noted that as a seasoned politician who has contested multiple elections, Atiku should have exercised greater caution before making such statements.
The statement added, “The party has however expressed shock and disbelief by the revelation from one of the leading political figures and former vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, insisting that it would be improper for the politician to throw shade at the entire opposition without also putting forward a tangible proof other than a ‘gossip’ from an unnamed source.
“For us in the Labour Party, a party which has remained the strongest and most veritable opposition and which speaks truth to power; a party that led the most serious campaign in the 2023 general election and has been steadfast and has remained the voice of the people, we view that statement as demeaning, ignominious, reckless and a let down from someone like Atiku Abubakar.”
The LP stated that it had run a frugal administration using internally generated funds, having received no support from its elected representatives.
Furthermore, the party noted that despite the challenges it had faced in the recent past, its leadership remained solid and committed to its ideals.
“The leadership has not received any salary from anybody. Salaries are not hidden and it is not difficult to verify who and who are on the government payroll. It is a public document and it can be verified. We therefore advise Atiku to be circumspect and careful in generalizing certain allegations. We expect him to speak for himself and his party.
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“The opposition is the oxygen of any virile democracy because it helps put the government in power in proper checks while also ensuring inclusivity in democratic participation. Democracy without opposition is an autocracy and it takes a lot of sacrifices to sustain opposition. It is therefore frustrating and unpatriotic when leaders who ought to know better, begin to derive joy in denigrating the opposition camp and making jests of their sacrifices.
“We are therefore calling on Atiku Abubakar to provide concrete evidence to substantiate his allegations without which Nigerians will be forced to take every other of his statements with a pinch of salt and politically motivated.”
