Otti-Kalu controversy: Uzokwe Ndubuisi knocks Labour Party over ‘double Standards’

Political analyst Uzokwe Ndubuisi has launched a critique against supporters of the Labour Party (LP), accusing them of “selective amnesia” in their reaction to a recent development involving Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu. Kalu had extended an invitation to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, suggesting that he return to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ndubuisi’s comments have sparked a debate about political loyalty and public memory.

Ndubuisi’s criticism centers around what he sees as hypocrisy among LP supporters who have seemingly ignored Otti’s history of shifting political affiliations. He expressed his discontent, stating, “I initially hesitated to comment on this matter, but the blatant hypocrisy among Labour Party supporters, who conveniently forget that their revered Otti did the same just months ago, is deeply frustrating.” His remarks suggest that LP supporters are overlooking Otti’s past political moves while criticizing Kalu’s recent invitation.

To provide context, Ndubuisi detailed Otti’s political journey. After unsuccessful attempts to win the governorship of Abia State with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2015 and 2019 elections, Otti switched his allegiance to the APC in 2020.

However, after failing to secure the APC’s governorship ticket for the 2023 elections, Otti transitioned to the Labour Party, where he eventually achieved his goal and won the governorship.

Ndubuisi highlighted what he views as an inconsistency in how Otti’s political maneuvers are perceived. “Sometimes I wonder how people can ‘forget’ something that happened so recently,” he said, emphasizing the notion of selective amnesia.

He argued that Otti’s previous party changes were met with far less scrutiny compared to the current criticism directed at Kalu for his invitation to Otti.

The analyst also drew a comparison between the reactions to Otti’s previous political campaigns and the current response to Kalu’s proposal. During Otti’s aggressive campaigning in Imo State, he was praised for his efforts to strengthen the Labour Party.

In contrast, Kalu’s gesture of inviting Otti back to the APC has been met with a flurry of media attacks, which Ndubuisi believes were orchestrated by Otti’s team to discredit Kalu.

“Nobody labeled Otti a monster or paid social media influencers to attack him,” Ndubuisi observed. He further questioned whether Otti would demonstrate the same level of commitment to the Labour Party if he were to campaign in other states, such as Edo State. Ndubuisi suggested that Otti might assure his followers of the Labour Party’s success in Edo State, potentially stirring similar controversies.

“Let’s see if he will assure his followers that the LP will take over the government house of Edo State,” Ndubuisi speculated. His comments reflect broader concerns about political loyalty, public memory, and the dynamics of political allegiance in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.