THE crisis rocking the Labour Party has taken a critical dimension, as the chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Dan Nwanyanwu, has tendered his resignation before the National Working Committee.

  In a letter addressed to the LP National Chairman, A.A Salau, Nwanyanwu accused the chairman of compromising in the nomination of candidates for the 2015 general elections, as against the advice of the members of the Board of Trustees.

  Nwanyanwu, who was a former national chairman of the party, also alleged that Salau used the protection of a serving security chief to mismanaged the huge sum of money the party realised from its sale of forms in one of the South-South states, thereby denying the party of its legitimate fund.

  “I regret to observe that events in the Labour Party, especially with regard to the handling of the recently concluded nomination of candidates on the platform of the party for the 2015 general elections, are not in consonance with the integrity, transparency and accountability for which the Labour Party had achieved the reputation over the years,” he said.

  “I have had cause to confront you personally with the information available to me regarding these matters of concern and I must admit that your incoherent answers created more doubts in my mind about your innocence.

  “You are averse to genuine advice and you have turned yourself to the biblical Pharaoh whose heart was continually hardened even when God warned him.”

  Nwanyanwu said it was sad that the LP chairman used the good name of a security chief in this country to justify alleged unpardonable action “in connection with the huge funds that came from one of the South-South states as nomination fees for the party, thereby denying the party its legitimate funds.” 

  He queried: “Did you consider this same security chief becoming aware of the criminal use of his name and consequently arresting you and your collaborators? 

  “What image would you have left of the party? This is very sad and I do not want to be part of this mess amongst-others.”

  The former LP leader expressed regrets that after all his contributions to stabilising and taking the party to an enviable position during his 10 years as national chairman, the current chairman had taken steps to take the party into crisis, which, he noted, could take it back to a struggling state.

  “The Labour Party achieved the character of a Progressive Political Party that never compromised in its principles and ideals,” he said. 

  “The confidence of the leaders and members of the party in the National Working Committee (NWC) led by me, as National Chairman, was earned and not assumed.

  “At the expiration of my tenure, I stepped down as Chairman and was indeed persuaded to accept the appointment made by the convention as Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Party. I accepted this appointment in good faith in order to continue to contribute to the growth of the party.”

  Nwanyanwu regretted that with the turn of events so soon after Salau’s assumption of office as National Chairman, he (Nwanyanwu) was unable to continue to hold the office of Chairman of Board of Trustees of the party or to continue to associate with the party as a member.

  “Consequently, I hereby tender my resignation both as chairman of Board of Trustees of Labour Party and member of the party,” he said. 

  “I have already taken steps to effect my resignation as member of the party at my ward, as required by the party constitution.”