By Kola Adeyemi
Workers in Kogi State have been urged to take the centre state by using their strategic position to determine who becomes the next governor of the state.
The immediate past Chairman of the Trade Union Congress ( TUC), Kogi State chapter, Comrade Ranti Ojo, made this charge during a meeting organised by Ododo /Joel Labour Support Group in Lokoja.
To achieve this, Ojo urged the workers to come out in their large number to vote in the forthcoming November 11 Governorship Election.
” We have the force. The numbers and tenacity. Let us use our support well by joining hands to produce the next governor for the State,” he said
Ojo, however, assured the workers that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo and his running mate, Joel Salifu will not use workers as learning tools.
He said both Ododo and Joel have garnered enough experience in public administration, especially in the areas of workers welfare and labour issues.
Ojo who doubles as the Secretary of the State Steering Committee, Ododo Joel Labour Support Group , said it has become expedient for organised labour and workers to show interest in who becomes the next governor of the state.
” Let us be focused by working together. The time for labour to have a voice within the political arena of the state should begin with the November 11 Governorship election.
“Without labour struggling, we got the Governorship and Deputy Governorship Candidates of APC.
“This is not an opportunity that should be allowed to slip out of our hands, so as not to pass the route of the past.
“Don’t allow the anger of the past to becloud our sense of decision in who governs the State.
“Our decision to work with the APC Governorship Candidates, is informed by the fact that as labour leaders, our interest will be more protected,” he said.
Also speaking, Comr. Tom Abutu, one time Kogi State NULGE President and Member, Steering Committee, Ododo Joel Support Group, described the group as a platform labour and workers want to use to change the sad narratives of the past.
Abutu urged workers to put behind the past and chat a new course.
“Ododo was a worker who served as an Exco of NUEE. Comr. Joel was a Teacher. He became NUT Chairman. If given the opportunity of having a governor and Deputy who are labour leaders, workers and labour would be great beneficiaries,” he said.
Also speaking, Comr. Onuh Edoka, Steering Committee Chairman, Ododo Joel Support Group, described workers as critical stakeholders in governance.
He said workers should no longer fold there hands and watch, explaining that the support group is a forum to chart a common front for the next government.
The former state NLC Chairman said the journey labour and workers are about to enter calls for critical reexamination.
According to him, the thinking of bringing a new government so as not to pass through the same old route of not deciding who governs the State should no longer be allowed.
Edoka said : ” With Ododo -Joel, they will have an insider view of governance and the understanding of what labour and workers need.”
He, said the APC has offered the duo of labour leaders as it candidates, saying this is first in the history of the State.
“Ododo/Joel ticket will lift Kogi workers out of the quagmire,” he said.
According to him, labour and workers owe it a duty to have and remain a voice in the forthcoming election.
“Kogi workers will have a sense of belonging when Ododo/Joel as labour leaders form government”.
” We are working on a Charter of demand of what is our expectations, particularly what Government is owing LG workers and Pensioners,” he said.
Edoka commended the local government workers for being patient with government, assuring them of better deal under the APC Governorship Candidates.
In their separate remarks, Bamidele Ologe Olowu, Comr. Yusuf Isah NULGE, Haruna Yakubu, Abdulmalik Idris, resolved to reach out to workers under their leaderships on why the Ododo Joel ticket is best for workers and labour.
Recall that the Ododo Joel Labour Support Group had in the last couple of days began a Mobilization Tour of the SAC/SEC of the Trade Unions (Organized Labour) in Kogi State.
The Support Group which had earlier met with 31 industrial Unions, to drum support for Ododo/Joel ticket. (vitalnewsngr.com)
