Date: 2018-01-11

The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Dr Mike Omotosho, yesterday debunked the rumour making the rounds that he was working for the President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

He said the allegation that he was a mole for Saraki and the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not true, urging Nigerians to disregard the insinuation.

Omotosho was the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Kwara State in the 2015 general elections.

Speaking through the Acting Chairman of the party in the state, Comrade Abdulmumin Abdulkareem Onagun, at a roundtable to mark the 57th Birthday of a frontline labour leader, Comrade Issa Aremu, in Ilorin yesterday, the labour party boss said he has no reason to be working against the interest of his party.

Omotosho said he remains committed to the ideals of his party and would not indulge in any act that would undermine the collective interest of the labour party, which he currently chairs.

He challenged anyone with proof that he engaged in clandestine talks with the either the Senate President or the APC to come out in the open and spill the bean.

The Herald recalls that online and social media platforms were agog recently with reports that the Labour Party National Chairman had entered into an alliance with the President of the Senate.

Omotosho, however, threatened to take legal action against those alleging him of working for the interest of some individuals.

The Labour Party National Chairman explained that as a Kwaran, he has regard for leaders and all citizens of the state but such should not be misconceived as serving as an agent of an individual or a political party.

"I have the authority of Dr Mike Olufemi Omotosho, the National Chairman of Labour Party to tell this gathering that he is not working for the Senate President; he is also not working for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

"This is because he has no reason to do so. As a loyal party man and being the National Chairman of our party, he is committed to the ideals of the party and he should therefore not be dragged into any unholy alliance.

"There have been insinuations here and there and all over the country. And I must say here that I have taken due permission and I'm having his (Omotosho's) mandate to actually speak that as far as he is concerned, he is not been used by Senator Bukola Saraki, the Senate President; that he is the National Chairman of the Labour Party and that if anybody has any proof contrary to that, he should actually bring it out or he should remain quiet otherwise anytime from now, there may have to be legal action against anybody making such a statement.

I must say and emphasise here that he is neither working for APC nor being used by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki. He has respect for everybody, for all Kwarans. He is a Kwaran in the first instance, and I must say here that all of us in Kwara State, we have due respect for our leaders and that one does not mean that anybody should be insinuating. I am affirming to you that as far as we are concerned, as far as Dr Mike Olufemi Omotosho is concerned, he is the National Chairman of the Labour Party and he is neither being used by APC nor working for Senator Bukola Saraki", he said.

On the 57th Birthday of Issa Aremu, the labour party national chairman congratulated the celebrant, saying he has been fundamental and pivotal to the growth of the party in the state.

"We want to felicitate with Comrade Issa Obalowu Aremu for what he has been doing for the party for quite some years. I must say here that the man has been pivotal and fundamental to the registration of Labour Party in Nigeria as far back as year 2002. In Kwara State here to be specific, he has been fundamental, assisting and funding us", he said.