By Jude Opara, Abuja
The Labour Party (LP) has said that the party is not aware of any bribe alleged to have been paid to the leadership of opposition parties by the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government.
This is as the party also said its leadership has never received any money from any individual, group, organisation or government outside members of the party.
In a statement yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Obiora Ifoh said the party rather expressed shock and disbelief by the revelation from the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar that the ruling party through its government was giving the sum of N50 million Naira to opposition parties.
The statement further challenged the former Vice President to throw more light on the matter.
“It would be improper for the politician to throw a shade at the entire opposition without also putting forward a tangible proof other than a ‘gossip’ from an unnamed source”.
It could be recalled that Atiku while speaking at a national conference on strengthening democracy held in Abuja recently accused the ruling APC of offering opposition party leaders N50 million each to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.
The Labour Party wrote; ”We are shocked that a high caliber politician who has contested election all his life and often regarded as a very experienced politician could make such a wild, unguarded and unfounded statement.
“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.
*We want to put it on record that the Labour Party has ran a frugal administration from funds internally generated, having not received supports from our elected representatives. And in spite of the challenges the party has face in the recent past, the leadership of the party has remained solid and committed to the ideals of the party.
“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.
“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”, the statement concluded.
