A former chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Jilius Abure has said the party is different from other parties.
This is as he maintained that the party is for those who have no voice and would ordinarily not be recognised in the scheme of things.
Abure, who made this statement on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Directorate of Physically Challenged Persons.
While citing the instance of a commercial motorcyclist, commonly referred to as ‘okada man’ winning the House of Representatives seat in the 2023 general elections, Abure said the Labour Party looks out for the disabled people and empowers them.
“We have our goals rooted in social democracy, the party is for those who have no voice. The party is for those who ordinary will not be recognized in the scheme of things, and that’s why we have made deliberate efforts to see that those people who are disabled either because of their gender, because of their sex, either because of their physical condition, or they have disability financially or one way or the other, we look out for those people and empower them, and that’s why, that’s why you find that it is only a Labour Party that an Okada rider can become a member of the House of Representatives.
“Those with disabilities are not just those who have physical disabilities. If you want to run for an office, you have the potential to develop your community. You will have what it takes. You have the leadership capacity, the traits, the leadership qualities. You are passionate about the growth and development of your community, but because of the very exploitative character in Nigeria, the exploitative character of the way politics is played, you are disabled, the Labor Party is the destination.
“We want to make sure that those with physical disabilities are taken care of. And if we see the Labour Party is different, believe that charity should begin at home. If we say we are going to change the country, we believe that the change should begin with us as a ward Chairman. We want to change Nigeria, you must change yourself first,” he said.
