Aisha Yesufu Criticises Ex Labour Party Chairman, Abure Over Alleged Fund Mismanagement Claim

A prominent social critic, Aisha Yesufu, has taken to social media to denounce the former National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, for allegedly spreading false information about the handling of party funds.

Yesufu’s criticism comes in the wake of Abure’s claims regarding the management of the presidential campaign funds for the party’s 2023 general election candidate.

In a post on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Yesufu expressed her dismay at Abure’s assertions, stating, “He thinks one can lie shamelessly without being fact-checked.”

This statement was a direct response to Abure’s remarks, in which he alleged that Aisha Yesufu, alongside Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, was solely responsible for managing the campaign funds.

Abure’s comments were made against a backdrop of accusations suggesting that he had mishandled the party’s financial resources.

Julius Abure has faced significant scrutiny amid rumours that he mismanaged the Labour Party’s funds during the 2023 elections.

To counter these allegations, Abure claimed that the Labour Party had no direct access to the accounts set up for donations aimed at supporting Peter Obi’s presidential bid.

According to Abure, Yesufu and Ighodalo were the only authorised signatories to these accounts, and therefore, the party was not involved in the distribution or oversight of the campaign funds.

“Our main concern was to see how we could produce a president for the party. How the funds were managed was not our business.

We gave them free rein, allowing them to administer the campaign resources as they saw fit,” Abure stated.

He emphasised that the party’s role was purely supportive and that Yesufu and Ighodalo had full autonomy over the financial aspects of the campaign.

However, Yesufu was quick to counter Abure’s narrative by resurfacing one of his old posts from 2022 on the same platform, in which he had explicitly called on the public to take ownership of the campaign by donating a minimum of N1,000 to a Labour Party account.

This post directly contradicts Abure’s recent claims of having no involvement or access to the funds.

In a sharp rebuke, Yesufu accused Abure of attempting to rewrite history, stating, “Julius Abure thinks we are still in 1980, where one can lie shamelessly without being fact-checked.”

Her statement highlights the frustration many supporters feel when confronted with conflicting accounts from party officials.

The clash between Yesufu and Abure underscores the ongoing tensions within the Labour Party, particularly in the aftermath of the 2023 general elections.

Accusations of mismanagement and internal discord have plagued the party, which positioned itself as a significant challenger in the political landscape.

As social media continues to serve as a battleground for these disputes, the public has become increasingly sceptical of the narratives pushed by party officials.

Aisha Yesufu, known for her outspoken nature and activism, has consistently used her platform to hold political leaders accountable.

Her swift response to Abure’s claims is a reminder of the growing power of social media in the political sphere, where statements can be quickly verified or disproven by an engaged and informed audience.

The controversy surrounding the Labour Party’s campaign funds is emblematic of the broader issues facing many political parties in Nigeria, where transparency and accountability are often called into question.

As the party navigates these challenges, the leadership will need to address these concerns head-on to restore trust among its supporters and the wider electorate.

This incident also serves as a cautionary tale for political leaders about the importance of consistency and honesty in their public statements.

In an era where information is readily accessible, attempts to mislead or obscure the truth are likely to be met with immediate and robust pushback, not only from critics like Aisha Yesufu but also from the wider public.

In conclusion, the fallout from Abure’s statements and Yesufu’s rebuttal continues to unfold, reflecting deeper issues within the Labour Party and the broader political environment in Nigeria.

The party’s ability to manage this internal conflict and re-establish credibility will be critical as it looks to position itself for future electoral success.