A political grassroots mobiliser in Abia State, Uzokwe Ndubuisi has sharply criticised Labour Party (LP) supporters for what he describes as “selective amnesia” in their response to a recent call by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, inviting Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ndubuisi expressed his frustration with the hypocrisy he perceives among LP supporters, who, according to him, have overlooked Otti’s history of shifting political allegiances.
“Initially, I didn’t want to say anything regarding this matter,” he wrote.
“But I was pissed off by the fact that the Labour Party supporters were reeking of hypocrisy, forgetting that their beloved Otti had done the same barely a few months ago.”
He highlighted the political journey of Governor Otti, who, after unsuccessfully running for governor of Abia State under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2015 and 2019, switched to the APC in 2020.
However, when he failed to secure the APC’s governorship ticket for the 2023 elections, Otti moved to the Labour Party, where he eventually won the governorship.
“Sometimes I wonder how people can ‘Not Remember’ because ‘Forgetting doesn’t even exist’ unless they suffer from selective amnesia,” Ndubuisi remarked.
The analyst also pointed out that in October 2023, Otti visited Imo State and boldly declared that the APC’s time in the state was over, urging Governor Hope Uzodinma to prepare his handover note.
“Instead of saying what the Labour Party’s candidate, Sen. Athan Achonu, would do for the people of Imo State if elected, Otti went haywire on Governor Uzodinma,” Ndubuisi said, criticising Otti’s campaign tactics as indecent and disrespectful.
Ndubuisi’s article questioned the silence of LP supporters during Otti’s aggressive campaigning in Imo State, contrasting it with their reaction to Kalu’s recent invitation. He argued that while Otti was lauded for his efforts to strengthen the LP, Kalu’s invitation was met with media attacks, which Ndubuisi believes were orchestrated by Otti’s team. “Nobody labelled him a monster. Nobody paid social media influencers to attack him,” Ndubuisi noted.
The analyst further questioned whether Otti would demonstrate the same level of commitment to the Labour Party if he were to campaign in Edo State, hinting at the possibility of similar controversies arising. “Let’s watch and see how he will campaign for his party if he will not assure his followers that LP will take over the government house of Edo state,” Ndubuisi speculated.
In closing, Ndubuisi quoted Franklin Raj, emphasising the idea that “Selective Amnesia” is a convenient condition, allowing individuals to remember only what suits their narrative. The article has sparked discussions on the role of political loyalty and consistency in Nigeria’s rapidly shifting political landscape.