By SIMON EBEGBULEM
THE ancient of Benin City was thrown agog a week ago when the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, counterpart, held a solidarity rally, declaring  support for the re election bid of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, immediate past President of NLC.

The rally attracted the cream of serving and retired labour leaders like Ali Ciroma and Hassan Sunmonu, two former presidents of NLC, incumbent NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and President-General of TUC, Comrade Peter Esele among other dignitaries, in spite of several attempts including an injunction from Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court, NIC, to stop it.

*A cross section of members of the organised labour at a rally organised for Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State Governor, by the NLC and TUC in Benin City

Earlier, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state, through its Publicity Secretary, Matthew Urhoghide, had faulted the planned rally, alleging that workers were being coerced to support Oshiomhole’s second term bid.

He argued that it would be illegal for the NLC to use its apparatus to endorse Oshiomhole, stressing that it would be wrong for Labour to use member’s check-off due for such rally when the individual members were at liberty to support for any political party of their choice.

But in a swift reaction, the state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Emmanuel Ademokun,  said it was untrue that workers were being coerced to participate in the rally, explaining that the NLC toured the entire 18 Local Government Councils to seek members’ support and that the position was overwhelmingly supported.

Besides, he said the endorsement of Oshiomhole was an action taken last year by the national leadership of the NLC and TUC, saying “it is a workers affair and not that of government. There is nothing in the labour law that stops our action once majority of our members support it.

We did not collect a dime from the state government, what we are using is donation from members and not more than N3 million so I don’t know where PDP got the N100 million they are claiming from. The governor is from our constituency, should we vote for a military man?

This is a democracy for Christ sake we are no longer in the days of the military. Workers of this state are happy with our own Oshiomhole and we have the right to say he should be supported to continue for the interest of Edo people.”

Workers happy with Oshiomhole
The rally was unprecedented as several Thousands of had before matching into the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium went round the streets of Benin City soliciting support for Oshiomhole.

Addressing the workers and other participants, Ademokun said the Comrade Oshiomhole had demonstrated in all nooks and crannies of Edo State that labour leaders were better managers in the governance of the people, their general welfare and wellbeing.

According to him “The infrastructural revolution which this three years old government has brought to Edo State can best be described as miraculous. Projects and activities that were hitherto thought impossible have been made glaringly possible. The Benin City water storm project, the Ring Road re-urbanization project and the holistic turnaround of our primary and secondary schools across the state which now look literarily speaking as comfortable and conducive like Cambridge and Oxford Universities are among the endless list of the achievements of this government.”

He commended the prudent, transparent and accountable style of governance of Comrade Oshiomhole, saying “Edo State can now boast of N2billion internal generated revenue. Our collective enemies have vowed that our Moses will not enter the Promised Land come July 14th 2012 and on this we are resolved as workers and the good people of Edo State to re-establish and re-affirm the axiom that power and sovereignty belong to the people. Since the voice of the people remains the voice of God, we are convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that with our resolve, this Moses must enter with us and occupy the Promised Land.”

While commending the governor for being the first to implement the new minimum wage, restoration of teachers special allowances and reduction of taxes consequent upon the new Federal Tax Act in the state, he acknowledged the workers in the public and private sectors and the entire people for the sacrifice in support of this government, urging them to continue in that direction.

On his part, Comrade Omar said “the rally in support of Adams Oshiomhole is a good decision, something that is sending fears into the hearts and minds of some people who do not have the guts to face the electorate. They have always believed that the only way to attain power is through hanky panky. Edo people are now wiser and they are saying no. if you want to be Governor, go and test your popularity. Several attempts have been made to threaten and scatter this rally, including using a number of courts here in Edo State. But the Judges in Edo State are upright; they now decided to go to Abuja where they got their injunction. They cannot stop innocent people from associating and expressing themselves. We will be ready to do this type of rally a thousand times for Comrade Oshiomhole.”

For Esele, “we are happy for what Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has been doing in Edo State. When music is good, we play it twice. We are not telling the Comrade to go and repeat, when you want to repeat, you are a failure, and we know those who repeated in the past what they turned Edo State into. What we are asking the Comrade Governor to do is to continue, because of what he has been able to achieve, we say continue.

The Labour movement in Nigeria cannot and will not be intimidated. We have a right to support to support whoever we think will deliver on the mandate. The workers in Edo know know their interest will be better protected when they vote in Oshiomhole. Edo people know where their bread is buttered, Edo people know who is feeling their pain, and they must ensure that Oshiomhole is returned.”