Veteran Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has denied reports that he has left the Labour Party. Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Tuesday, Okonkwo clarified that he remains a committed member of the party.
“First of all, let me say I am embarrassed by your comment. I am just hearing it from your media station that I dumped the Labour Party. And I put up the statement that I made so that I wouldn’t be misconstrued. So, where did you get that from? It’s not certainly from the statement that I made. I am still a full-fledged member of the Labour Party,” he stated.
When asked if he is still a member of the Labour Party, Okonkwo affirmed, “Yes, absolutely.”
He further explained, “There’s no crisis in the Labour Party as it relates to me. There’s a crisis in the Labour Party as it relates to the NWC, which failed to organise an all-inclusive convention. And I thought that the leader ought to have taken a decisive decision to ensure, having seen that the convention did not hold against his instruction, that there’s an organised and all-inclusive convention according to court judgment and past agreement.”
Previously, Okonkwo announced his decision to distance himself from Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate, and the Labour Party due to concerns about Obi’s leadership style and inability to address national issues. He also questioned Obi’s capability to secure electoral victories and confront the country’s ‘kakistocrats’ and ‘kleptocrats’ directly.
Okonkwo emphasized his need for a more decisive, bold, and brave leader with integrity and team spirit to achieve his vision for Nigeria.
