By Ben Agande

ABUJA—The President of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Peter Esele yesterday warned against the postponement of the 2011 elections as being canvassed by some politicians, saying that such calls were misplaced.

Comrade Esele gave the warning in Abuja when he paid a courtesy call on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega.

According to Comrade Esele, the 2011 elections  must be conducted no matter the difficulties because postponing them will cause unnecessary tension in the country and would be counter productive. He enjoined all Nigerians to join hands with the commission to ensure that the 2011 elections are credible.

The trade union leader advised Professor Jega not to be carried away by the numerous accolades that had trailed his appointment, saying that the task ahead of him is huge but can be achieved if there was sincerity of purpose.

He said politicians have resorted to canvassing for zoning because they know that since votes don’t count; zoning is the only way to guarantee them victory. “I tell you if the votes should count in this country, there will be food on your table and work for you to do and then nobody will care where the president comes from or the type of language he speaks,” he said.

He advised against selling their votes for any reason, saying the little amount of money or cups of rice and salt that politicians do provide at elections cannot translate to the value of the vote in their hand.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega urged the TUC leader to use its members all over the country to sensitize the people on the need to be part of the electoral process, saying that elections would be free, fair and credible when all Nigerians get involved in the electoral process.

“INEC knows that Nigerian workers are committed to credible elections, you people should enlighten and talk to other Nigerians to take part in the exercise for us to succeed together because INEC alone cannot deliver on the expectations of Nigerians,” Jega said.

He thanked the TUC for offering to partner with his commission to get an election that will stand the test of time while promising that the commission has resolved to conduct an exercise that will be devoid of most of the criticisms of the past.