By Rasaq Adebayo
Due to the lingering crisis that rocked the party, the immediate past Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of Labour Party, Kayode Salako, has formally dumped the party.
He made the decision following inability of the party leaders to resolve the disputes that emanated from his unceremonial exit from office and fallout of the general elections.
Salako made this known in an official resignation letter to the embattled National Chairman of the party, Barr. Julius Abure, titled, “Resignation of appointment as the SA to the office of the National Chairman of the Labour Party and withdrawal of membership from Labour Party”.
The letter, which was dated 20th April, 2023, read in part: “I wish to inform you and the leadership authority of the party that I am resigning from the official position above, and also withdrawing my membership as a card carrying stakeholder of Labour Party in Lagos State, from today, April 20, 2023.
“Dropping my membership of Labour Party at this critical time of my political career is like dropping a child one has groomed passionately with the best of intention, sincerity, commitment and unusual affection.
”However, in any association, or relationship, where there is absence of love, operational cohesion and trust, it would always be difficult to make tangible accomplishments; run things in peace and impossible to make progress.”
Salako explained that it was a personal decision he made to save himself from the consistent accusations and public attacks of being labeled an APC/Tinubu mole in the party, among other personal reasons.
He further said: “I thank the party for the privileged opportunity it availed me to serve as the State Chairman of the party, as well as, for the ticket to contest as the candidate of the party in the February 25, 2023, House of Representatives election, and the appointment to serve your office as the Special Adviser on Lagos State Labour party affairs, and its Liaison operations.”
He added that he endured the most difficult time of his adulthood and political sojourn as the Chairman of Labour Party.
He said the mistrust, lack of internal democracy and insincerity within the ranks of the party was better imagined, and that eventually cost the party victory at the last general election.
He said he got into the party, with the utmost intention and mission to win Lagos State for Peter Obi, and helped the party to form the next government in Lagos, through the candidacy of Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, but was frustrated from day one in the party as chairman, because of lack of co-operation in the party, and trust in the intention of his operations.
“I was psycologically abused; emotionally assaulted on all fronts, and I did not have peace for one day, as the helmsman of the party at the time”.
” The OBIDIENT movement, most especially, did not trust me in any way. I was accused of being a Tinubu/APC mole in the party, and called all sorts of unprintable and derogatory names.”
He added that to worsen the mistrust against his personality as Chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Peter Obi, whom he assiduously labored to build the party structures for his victory, never related with his office, nor encouraged his efforts and intention in any way.
Salako said he would be announcing his next political move in the coming days, while thanking all his political supporters, loyalists and fans in the party for their steadfast, prayers and unwavering support over the years.
