Politics
NLC Strike: Former Presidential Aide Asks Tinubu To Fix Nigeria’s Problems
Olasunmibo Aboluwade, Abuja
Former presidential aide and veteran journalist, Laolu Akande, has described the ongoing national strike as a “distraction” .
He has therefore cautioned that the nation has bigger problems to deal with especially the current hardship being faced by Nigerians and the fiscal crisis of the Federal Government.
Featuring on Channels TV’s “Politics Today” anchored by Seun Okinbaloye on Channels TV, Akande appealed to the President to put an end to myriad national problems compounded by the national strike ordered by the National Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) which commenced on Tuesday.
According to him, afterall leaders are elected to deal with crises.
He advised an immediate intervention from The Presidency in the circumstances saying all it requires is a simple phone call to invite labour leaders for a meeting and fix the problems.
His words, “Mr President has said that the bucks stop at his table, so we need to address Mr President and say look Mr President fix this. We don’t need this distraction.
“The nation has more important problems to deal with. The people are suffering, the last thing that people want to have to deal with is a national strike. We don’t need this strike and I believe that it can be sorted out as quickly as possible. I don’t see a very big problem here,” Akande stated.
When asked whether the strike was political or not, Akande responded, “That is why we have leaders. Our leaders are political leaders, elected political leaders to solve political problems.
Akande however pleaded with the labour movement as well.
He said, “We have to balance it. The labour does have a responsibility, is it entirely right to bring the entire nation to its knees because of a local issue in Imo? Wouldn’t it have been better to localize this thing in Imo? That’s for labour.”
“I am not sure that punishing the whole country for whatever it is that is happening in Imo State, I’m not sure that is the right decision on the part of the labour movement.
“But for the government, starting from the President, all the way down, this is something that can be sorted out with a single phone call. A phone call from the Villa to the Labour leaders would get them running into the Villa. You know this is not the first time the government has had to deal with Labour.
“This is the kind of action that we need. We don’t need any further delay, we need the President to get on the ball and sort this thing out and he can sort it out very quickly. Mr President fix this,” Akande pleaded.
He was however categorical in condemning the inhumane treatment meted out to the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero, recently in Imo State, and described the treatment as “criminal.”
He said, “It’s important to say that what happened to Mr Joe Ajaero in Imo State is criminal. You know, you don’t beat up people, that is an assault on the man and that is a crime. So, we need to put that in perspective to say that this is not right.
Recalling the promise of the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to investigate the assault on the NLC President, Akande commended the IGP for making the swift response.
Pressed further on what he thought could have been the best approach the Labour union leaders could have adopted to express their grievances, Akande responded, “From what I’ve gathered so far this is essentially a local issue. You heard from the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzondinma, to say that this is a local political issue.”
“There are allegations that Mr. Ajaero is partisan towards the Labour Party and all of that, so indeed we can say this is an Imo State issue, it will be more appropriate to deal with this issue in Imo State and not make it a national issue. I think it is a bit of a stretch from the labour movement, Akande concluded.
David Olayinka, Akure
The Jagunmolu of Ikaleland and Ojagbulegun from The Source, Prince ( Dr.) Gen. Olu Bajowa, CFR has commended Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, describing him as a Governor whose victory at the November , 16th poll was made possible by God , the Almighty and the good people of Ondo State , who showed him massive love and vote support on election day.
Gen. Bajowa gave this indication in a special congratulatory statement, personally signed by him , which copy was obtained by thepolity.net
In the statement, the retired top brass Army General said, ” I write to join all well-wishers to congratulate you on your well deserved election victory as ” the God’s anointed” Executive Governor of Ondo State.
“The people have spoken loud and clear! Your outstanding and overwhelming performance with the wide margin at the polls is a testimony of your popular acceptance by the good people of The Sunshine State.
” As the old proverb says, ‘ Vox Populi, vox dei’ ( the voice of the people is the voice of God), therefore by God’s grace , you are the Executive Governor of Ondo State for the next four years. ”
While congratulating the Governor on his ‘ sweet victory,’ Gen. Bajowa said Gov. Aiyedatiwa has enormous responsibilities in making life more abundant for the people of Ondo State, noting that the Governor’s responsibility includes providing adequate security, transformation of Agriculture , health and education sectors among others; the fight against poverty, hunger and unemployment , ensuring adequate water and regular power supply for the growth of SMEs and reactivation of all the moribund industries with serious attention to road network and infrastructural development. Going further, Gen. Bajowa noted, “Also important are the issues of the development of our natural resources and solid minerals : bitumen, oil, fisheries and the Ondo State deep seaport project.
” You can count on me , my family and the entire Bajowa Royal Family for our continued support and loyalty to good governance and administration of Ondo State,” Gen. Bajowa stated.
While wishing Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa a successful tenure , Gen. Bajowa wished him more of God’s guidance , protection and good health as he governs Ondo State afresh.
…as voting commences across wards
Feranmi Daniel, Abeokuta
There was very impressive turn out in Sagamu and Ikenne Local Governments on Saturday during the Local Government elections going on in the State, as voters were seen trooping to their various polling units to cast their ballots.
Recalled that Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) had earlier slated Local Government elections for Saturday, 16th November, 2024.
An election observer from Advocacy for Social Justice & Liberty, Charles Odunuga, commended the electoral body for what he termed decent and well organized process.
He therefore, urged electorate to maintain the peace till the end of the exercise, adding that peaceful environment plays pivotal role in strengthening democracy.
Also, a voter in Sagamu, Pastor Sola Komolafe, euologised the proactiveness of the electoral commission and level of preparedness, including level-playibg ground for opposition parties to thrive.
In the same vein, Mrs Kafilat Sokoya, another voter in Grammar School area of Ikenne described the process across the town as peaceful and orderly, as she advised voters to shun inducement and act of violence.
Feranmi Daniel, Abeokuta
The ongoing local government polls in Ogun State got off to a good start on Saturday. This newspaper can exclusively report.
Election into chairmanship and councillorship positions are currently ongoing in the 20 local government councils of the state, with the major political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) saying that they will have a good showing.
In the polling units surveyed in major cities such as Abeokuta, the state capital; Ijebu Ode, Sagamu, Ota and Ilaro, election materials arrived on schedule even as voters expressed confidence that the exercise would be concluded without any hassles.
Findings by reporters across the state have not shown any incident of voter harassment or ballot box snatching so far.
This contradicts the false alarm raised by a major opposition party in the state to the effect that the election has been bedevilled by violence.
Some voters, however, complained of late arrival of materials even as officials of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) interviewed across the state said materials have reached all polling units in the State and they expected voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchise.