Essay
By Steve Nwabuko
CONGRATULATIONS Comrade Joe Ajero on your call to duty as the first Igbo to occupy the post of President of the NLC.
Your tenure is coming at such a time Labour movement is prospecting at the possibility of acquiring political power and form a new government in Nigeria.
The role of Labour movement in any government includes:
Insist on good governance.
Improve the welfare of workers.
Defend the rights of the poor and downtrodden from hash economic policies and political inconsistencies.
We saw the former NLC President protest against Governor Nasir Elrufai’s retrenchment of unqualified teachers in the Kaduna state government in 2021.
We are witnesses to NLC protests against fuel price hike in Nigeria since 1999 to date.
As posterity would have it, Mr Peter Obi chose the Labour Party in June 2022 to actualise his Presidential ambition with the mantra: *TAKE BACK YOUR COUNTRY.*
This came as a great chance for Labour movement in Nigeria to organize itself in a manner of the Arab Spring that swept through north Africa and the Arab world by popular discontent and activism to effect change and replace ineffective governments that were people insensitive.
Nearer home, we have not seen the Nigerian Labour movement throw their momentous weight behind Mr Peter Obi’s campaign stunts since the start of campaigns in September 2022.
Where are the Labour leaders of this generation?
Where is veteran Comrade Hassan Sunmonu?
Where is cerebral Comrade Owei Lakemfa?
Where is ebullient Comrade Waba?
Where is combative Comrade Adams oshiomole?
Where is irrepressible Comrade Kokori?
Where is gentle Comrade Peters?
Where is NLC and their May day parade showpieces?
Where is PENGASSAN?
Where is NUPENG?
Where is TUC?
It is inconceivable to find the Labour movement taking a back stage in the race to Aso rock in 2023 elections under the watch of Peter Obi’s people’s match to the Aso rock villa.
Now that an Igbo man is NLC President, how convenient will it be for him to call out Labour movement to support the Labour Party through campaigns and massive support for Peter Obi without being misconstrued as turning Labour movement to ethnic agenda?
The current outpouring of national support for Peter Obi as an individual ought to galvanise former Labour leaders to come out of their cocoon and support the Labour Party Presidential bid for power.
There has not been any endorsements coming from former Labour leaders and Labour movement some two weeks to the Presidential election.
If Labour movement did not envisage the momentous emergence of Peter Obi as a revivalist, is Labour movement insensitive to the Nigerian youths clamour for change of government for a better Nigeria?
This is a clarion call for Mr Joe Ajero to roll up his sleeves and get Labour Unions to publicly endorse the Labour Party candidates at national and state levels before the election commences.
God bless the Labour movement.
God bless Nigeria.
A.
Tags: Comrade Adams Oshiomole Comrade Hassan Sunmonu Comrade Joe Ajero Comrade Owei Lakemfa Comrade Waba Governor Nasir Elrufai Labour Party Mr Peter Obi NUPENGTUC PENGASSAN Steve Nwabuko
