Senate President Godswill Akpabio has advised Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to sort out the problems in his party before dreaming of becoming Nigeria’s President.

Akpabio gave this advice on Thursday, May 8, after Obi made a comment saying that the efforts of Nigeria’s past heroes now seem wasted due to the country’s current condition.

Obi made the statement while speaking at a memorial lecture on Wednesday, May 7, held in honour of late Niger Delta elder statesman, Edwin Clarke. He said the current state of Nigeria shows that the sacrifices of past leaders have not been respected.

He also wondered why people who protested fuel price hikes during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan are now silent. Obi reminded Nigerians that they protested when Jonathan raised fuel prices from N87 to N120, yet now, the price is higher and the naira is weaker, with one dollar exchanging for N900.

“For somebody like me who had just been part of the 2023 general election, he lived a life of courage, a life of sacrifice, a life of justice, a life that is valued. But most importantly, he continued living that life to the end. So why are we saying it (labours of heroes past) should not be in vain?

I listened to my brother Mike when you talked about, ‘may the Labour of our heroes past not be in vain’. I’m happy that Jonathan is here. But I can tell you their sacrifice is in vain.

They have sacrificed for nothing. We were in this country when people were protesting, when there was no need to protest under Goodluck Jonathan. Where are those protesters? Have they died? Where are they?

So why are we saying it (labours of heroes past) should not be in vain? Jonathan increased fuel from N87 to N120, and people were protesting in this country. And when it was the N900, they weren’t protesting. 

Again, so why are we saying it (labours of heroes past) should not be in vain? UNICEF two days ago announced that Nigeria now has over 2 million malnourished children, the second highest in the world. Are they de-marketing Nigeria? That’s just the reality. Their labour is in vain.

We have a country now that’s not democratic. We are not a democratic country, let’s tell ourselves the truth. Elections that happened in Edo, are they democratic? Everybody knows who won that generation. So why are we keeping it and saying let their work not be in vain?

It’s in vain. So we can start picking the pieces now because they’ve destroyed everything people have sacrificed for.”

In reply, Akpabio strongly disagreed with Obi’s statement. He said the efforts of leaders like Edwin Clarke should not be seen as wasted. He also told Obi to concentrate on fixing the disagreements within his “small party” before talking about leading the country.

‘“If you cannot resolve the crisis in your Labour Party, how can you solve the crisis of Boko Haram or other major national issues?

I urge those aspiring to lead Nigeria to first address the issues within their own parties. I can proudly speak about the dualized thoroughfares in my city, the international hospitals, and the digitalized governor’s offices.

I also initiated free and compulsory education and worked towards religious unity by sponsoring over 5,800 Muslims and over 12,000 to 15,000 Christians on pilgrimages to Rome and Jerusalem.”