Congress of Promoters of Labour Party Ideals (CPLPI) has frowned at the untoward action of Alhaji Abdulkadr A. Salam and Dr Kayode Ajulo over the defection of Dr Olusegun Mimiko to Labour Party (LP).

The Chairman of the Congress, Aremo Adepoju, said in a statement made available to News Express that their action was misleading and portrayed insincerity to Nigerians. “It is very shocking that both of them have decided to toe the same line, in the matter of the recent defection,” he said.

While adding that nothing else was expected from them as they are birds of the feather. He opined that they both belong to the same “infantile disorder” in their veil ideological pursuits.

According to Aremo, “The very prompt response of Alh. Salam and Dr Ajulo to the disorderly and incongruous defection is a clear pointer to the fact that Nigerians must be wary of those they regard as men of honour. In fact, they are better described and categorized as men of dishonour and enemies of genuine emancipation of the masses.

“Going down memory lane, in 2014 a convention purportedly held in Akure, which was controversial in form and content foisted Alh. Salam and Dr Ajulo onto the main leadership rung of LP with a view to continuing and consolidating their dirty political activities and the rots initiated by Mr Dan Nwanyanwu whom Dr Mimiko used, as a payrolled stooge, throughout his tenure as governor of Ondo State. Dan Nwanyanwu as a de facto national leader of the party found a common ground with Dr Mimiko to consciously distance LP from the NLC and continue the rots they had created in the party. On the day of hand-over to the corrupt leadership of Alh. Salam and Dr Ajulo and co., Mr Nwanyanwu shed crocodile tears, just to cajole and deceive unsuspecting Nigerians.

“Ironically, just around last year, the same Barr. Nwanyanwu, who was the immediate past national chairman of LP, was on TV as a chieftain of Advanced Party for Democratic Alliance (APDA), an offshoot of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), founded to salvage the Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction of PDP in the event they lost to Senator Alimodu Sheriff in the leadership legal crisis that engulfed the party in the past two years. Where is morality in being a former national chairman of a party and in a short while hobnobbing with another party as a chieftain? Something is definitely and fundamentally wrong. No sense of decency and morality which is the common attitude and character of Barr. Dan Nwanyanwu and Dr Mimiko and the duo of A. A SALAAM and Dr Ajulo whom both left behind to hold forte for them. It will therefore not be surprising to see Dan Nwanyanwu, Ajulo and Akinlaja, all heading back to their ‘empire’ Labour Party since their master in the game has returned ‘home’.

“Before and after their exit from the LP, Mr Nwanyanwu and Dr Ajulo had always supported and spoken in favour of the illegal process that brought Alh. Salam to power to the extent that the trio had the effrontery and singular dishonour to challenge NLC on the ownership of Labour Party in a High Court in ABUJA. Sooner or later a foundation built on falsehood will definitely collapse. Dan and Ajulo could no longer cope with the crudity of Salaam but both share in the same mission; had to resign from their posts as Chairman Board of Trustees and National Secretary respectively. This act/exploit of theirs is not unexpected anyway judging by their character; but, it is ridiculous that they both as legal practitioners could support and be ready to die for a flagrant illegality.”

The Chairman CPLPI, Aremo equally expressed sadness that some lawyers in and outside Labour Party are supporting the running of an institutional party as LP without any strict adherence to its rules, regulations, constitution and philosophy as espoused by its owner and promoter, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Aremo further said that Dr Ajulo, who resigned his secretaryship of LP for reasons best known to him used all his legal training and qualifications acquired in and outside Nigeria to perpetrate gross injustice and wreak havoc on the political career of some highly reputable individuals who were genuine loyal members of LP.

Condemning Mimiko’s defection, Aremo explained: “As far as Labour Party is concerned, Dr Abdulrahamon Olusegun Mimiko is a complete failure. The claim by Dr Mimiko that he left LP in order to help the then ruling party, PDP and also achieve his restructuring plan is laughable and does not hold water.”

Aremo asked: “Must he leave or collapse his party just because he believed in another party’s agenda or before he could work with any other party for what appears clearly as a desperate pursuit for a personal political interest?”

Stressing further, he indicated: “For those who are talking of the freedom of association like Dr Ajulo would want us to believe, Dr Mimiko’s defection constitutes serious anti-party activity that warrants no less sanction than expulsion. Freedom of association does not condone opportunism, perfidy, dishonesty and lawlessness. We should not be fooled. Dr Mimiko knows how alliances that work are being crafted. Throughout his eight-year tenure, Dr Mimiko could not build or make LP expand even in his state, talk less of other states of the federation. Of the so-called ‘mammoth crowd’ that filled the venue of his purported return to LP how many of them are card carrying and dues-paying members? He who pays the piper dictates the tune.”

“Before the defection of Dr Mimiko, Alh. A. Salam, on whose neck is hanged case(s) of financial misappropriation and other charges on the violation of constitutional provisions of Labour Party, had been playing along with the NLC so as to have a soft landing as a former labour leader. Now that his “boss” and co-traveller in impropriety, illegality is “back,” the beast in Salam has risen/resurrected again, hence the release of a press statement welcoming Dr Mimiko back, thus discountenancing the collective decisions earlier announced by Dr Mike Omotosho for and on behalf of the LP in his capacity as the Chairman Board of Trustees has unanimously agreed to at the aforementioned Peace Accord National Working Committee. This is a clear testimony to the old African saying that a leopard can never change its skin. The press statement by Alh Salam shortly after the defection was carefully written as any mention of the NLC/TUC leaders was completely circumvented/avoided. This shows that Alh. Salam has been hunting with hounds and running with the hares. Of course, it also goes without saying that all of them, Dr Mimiko, Mr Nwanyanwu, Dr Ajulo and Alh. Salam does not have any regard for the interest, stake and status of the NLC/TUC as the main owner and promoter of the LP; this is even in spite of the consent judgment he (Salam) assented to. Is he NOT risking contempt of court by flagrantly flouting the terms and conditions of settlement out of court? Time will tell. Curiously, why were labour leaders, the serving and the veterans not on hand to receive Dr Mimiko into their party? Why did the state exco of LP, NLC AND TUC in ONDO State not on hand to receive him back to their own party? This must be a food for thought for all those claiming to welcome Dr Mimiko back to Labour Party,” he added.

He, however, called on INEC to retrace its steps in order to sustain the much desired public confidence required of it in the journey to 2019.

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