Ajulo: PDP Lacks Capacity to Play Role of Opposition

National Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Kayode Ajulo

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The National Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Kayode Ajulo, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot play the role of an opposition party because its leadership does not possess the zeal and doggedness to sustain such campaign.

He said many top members of the PDP have shown interest in joining the L P where they hope to re-launch their political ambition in subsequent elections.

Ajulo, who spoke in an interview in Abuja yesterday advised the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, not to heed any suggestion to sack workers or tamper with their salaries as part of administration’s cost-saving measures.

While speaking on the evolving political scenario in the country, especially the switch of faith between APC and PDP, Ajulo said the role of an articulate opposition view point in any vibrant democracy cannot be over-emphasised.

According to Ajulo,  LP is repositioning itself to play a major role as an opposition party to put a check on the activities of the incoming  administration by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I must say this with all sense of responsibility that PDP cannot function well as an opposition party because it lacks the capacity to play an opposition role in Nigeria. I must say that the characters that I can see in the PDP prefer packaged food than going to the kitchen to cook. They like already-made things, you can’t expect such people to be in opposition,” he said.

Ajulo said what appeared as an early sign of weakness from  the PDP  was the manner in which within 24 hours, two of its victorious senators jumped ship to embrace the APC.

“It is quite unfortunate that we are yet to see any statement from the leaders of the PDP as even within two hours, two of their senatorial candidates who returned as senators immediately jumped ship.
“I believe that is the worst in the history of any politicking in the whole world and you are yet to see such happening. 

“I know the PDP is manned by some people of good quality and I am sure that they will certainly find their level in LP very soon. We have been approached; I have to be sincere but I will not mention names but if I am challenged to mention names, I will do so.”

The LP scribe said his party has a history of struggle and solidarity with the people, adding that it is the party of the people.
“It is not progressive by lip service but we want to be judged by our actions and that is why we are still watching; within these few days, we have already asked the APC and the president-elect not to ever think of touching any worker in the name of retrenchment because we know it will certainly come.

“We challenge the APC that instead of sacking workers, it should do what is expected of it by creating more jobs.

“From what we heard that Buhari was saying that Nigerians shouldn’t expect miracle, we have already asked him if he did promise Nigerians miracle. If so, then that miracle, you must perform it, because that was what you used to canvass for Nigerians vote.

“You must perform and Nigerians will not fold their hands to be deceived. So we believe we are not in a one-chance bus, as I want to believe that we are inside a vehicle that will take us to our destination.

“Nigerian hope is that we have someone that is driving the vehicle. You can’t tell us Agege and after we enter your vehicle, before you proceed, you now tell us that we should expect you to go through Agege. It will be very uncharitable to now think that we are going to vote for you in four years time, and Nigerians are not ready to wait for another four years,” he said.