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Kenneth Okonkwo Explains Why He Won’t Blame Tinubu for Crisis in Opposition Parties

Published by Tope Fakinlede on February 9th, 2025.

Kenneth Okonkwo Explains Why He Won’t Blame Tinubu for Crisis in Opposition Parties

Kenneth Okonkwo, a former leader of the Labour Party (LP), has stated that opposition parties have failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

Okonkwo, who served as the LP’s spokesperson during the 2023 presidential campaign, responded to claims made by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s government bribed opposition parties with ₦50 million to weaken their leadership in preparation for the 2027 elections.

In response to Atiku’s remarks during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television program, Okonkwo expressed his disappointment, not with the ruling party, but with the opposition parties for their alleged involvement in the bribery scandal.

“I will never hold the ruling party responsible for what is happening within the opposition,” he said. “I listened to Atiku Abubakar’s comments about the N50 million bribe, and I wasn’t embarrassed by the ruling party, but by the opposition. They are the ones being accused of corruption. If there is no willing recipient, there can be no giver.”

Okonkwo emphasized that destabilizing the opposition is a common political tactic used by parties worldwide, and he urged opposition parties to reject such offers, as it would serve the political interests of the ruling party.

As a former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okonkwo pointed out that the opposition parties have not lived up to Nigerians’ expectations and should take responsibility for their own failures.