Factional President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has alleged that former President of NLC and incumbent Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, disrupted the peace meeting organised by the eight-man reconciliatory committee set up by NLC leadership to resolve the leadership crisis rocking union.

Comrade Ajaero also asked Nigerians to hold the Comrade Governor responsible for the prolonged leadership crisis and inability of the elders of the labour movement to resolve the crisis.

Reacting yesterday to the utterances of the Governor Oshiomhole during a courtesy visit to NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in the Labour House, Abuja, on Tuesday, Comrade Ajaero said: “We are in the middle of a meeting with the elders of NLC including Hassan Sumuno, Ero Philips, Ali Ciroma and others. All of a sudden, he (Gov. Oshiomhole) walked out of the meeting and went to the office of Comrade Wabba for some sort consultation.

“We could have made a significant progress in the reconciliation process but for the unhelpful, divisive and partial role of Comrade Oshiomhole. He was supposed to part of the scheduled meeting but, on the contrary, he fixed a dubious courtesy call on Comrade Ayuba-led group without informing other veterans.

“It was clear he meant to mischievously disrupt the reconciliation meeting as Comrade Wabba abandoned the meeting to welcome him. It is a sign of disrespect on the part of both Comrade Governor and Comrade Wabba to have scheduled a courtesy call for whatever reason at the date and time labour leaders were meeting to proffer solution to the NLC leadership crisis.”

As a result, Ajaero said that the hope for peace in the Nigeria labour movement is still far from realisation. He, however, acknowledged the importance of peace in fighting for the welfare of the workers, thus suggesting that the NLC State Council elections slated for April 23 be postponed and jointly held at a mutually agreed date by the two groups. The two groups had agreed with the suggestion but insist on making consultations with their respective unions.

News Express recalls that Comrade Oshiomhole formally endorsed Comrade Wabba as the duly elected President of NLC, describing the election as free, fair and transparent to all.

“If a sitting Nigerian President (Goodluck Jonathan) who is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and exposed to enormous powers, can concede defeat in the just concluded Presidential elections, even before the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declare him a loser, then I don’t see why some people cannot accept the outcome the elections that was free, fair and transparent to all,” Comrade Oshiomhole had said.

•Photo shows Governor Oshiomhole.

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