Textile workers blast Ojukwu over call for Iwu’s retention
By Emeka Mamah
KADUNA — The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, has rejected the call by the Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu for the re-appointment of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission , INEC, Professor Maurice Iwu, saying that Ojukwu got it wrong.
The union said Ojukwu had always lampooned Prof. Iwu and called for his removal several times, saying his new position was informed by the victory recorded by Ojukwu’s party in Anambra State, where he had threatened to declare war if his candidate did not win.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary of the union, Comrade Issa Aremu, the textile workers said Ojukwu’s call flew in the face of calls by prominent Nigerians for Iwu’s removal for alleged poor performance.
The statement read: “Recently, Ikemba Nnewi and leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, in Enugu supported the reappointment of the chairman of the INEC, Prof. Maurice Iwu, for another term in office.
“Ikemba’s call came in the wake of global call for the immediate removal of the most embattled Chairman of an electoral commission in Nigeria.
“Ikemba’s sudden support for Iwu was based on the purported free and fair election in Anambra State on February 6, 2010 that saw the candidate of his party APGA, Mr. Peter Obi, emerged as Governor of Anambra State for the second term.
“Historically, Chief Ojukwu was reputed for some forthrightness either for better or for worse. With his latest intervention on Iwu, he is definitely on wrong side of history.
“Chief Ojukwu must be concerned that he is the only credible person who so far has made a case for not_so_credible embattled Chairman of INEC, Professor Maurice Iwu.
“Chief Ojukwu got it wrong when he based his support for Iwu on the recent election in Anambra. The relative success of Anambra was in spite of the incompetence of INEC leadership which massively disenfranchised people through voters’ register, late arrival of election materials among other criminal legacies of IWU led INEC leadership.
