LP claps back at Tinubu, We’ll press on regardless of obstacles
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
“We will not rest until we are able to take over government and provide the people quality leadership that will work for the country,” the Labour Party (LP) has vowed in reaction to President Bola Tinubu’s jibe in Lagos on Thursday.
Tinubu stressed when he inaugurated Phase One of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line at Ikeja Station that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) – which owns the LP – is not “the only voice of Nigerians” and should contest in the 2027 general election if it wants to join the electoral process.
LP National Chairman Julius Abure fired back in Umuahia after the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) members had a meeting with Abia Governor Alex Otti.
“How do you reconcile a situation where we export crude oil only to import refined products at high costs. Nigeria’s problem is bad leadership, and once we get it right, every other thing will be fixed,” Abure said.
“Today, you can see that Nigeria is not moving as it should. A bag of rice sells for N120,000 while minimum wage is N30,000. A tuber of yam that previously sold for N500 is now N1,200.
“Life has become very difficult in Nigeria; security challenges are enormous; inflation is very high; unemployment is increasing, and people now find it increasingly difficult to feed.
“This is the reality in Nigeria today under APC [All Progressives Congress] government.
“We will provide a leadership that will fight poverty and fight hunger; a leadership that will empathise with the people and liberate them.”
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NLC already in politics, Ajaero reiterates
NLC President Joe Ajaero had already declared in March last year that the union would continue to get involved in politics.
“The NLC will be involved in politics; we are already involved in politics; NLC has a political party: the Labour Party (LP), and LP participated in the recent elections.
“Nigeria must exist before we practice our unionism; anybody who emerges as the President of Nigeria will work with us, and the rights and privileges of the workers must be guaranteed.
“That is what we are going to impose on them – even the ones that have emerged as Senators or House of Representatives members.
“They must, as a necessity, meet with us and we will give them our programmes.
“That is the whole essence and thinking of LP in the first place; so that their actions, inactions, and utterances will reflect the affairs of the labour movement, and there should be no pretenses about it.
“We are not saying that people cannot belong to any party of their choice, but we have a party where whatever we discuss here, we take it there as workers.
“If we want new minimum wage, we take it to the people that represent; all these issues concern the workers, and we should no longer shy away from them.”
Four strikes in 9 months not acceptable, says Tinubu
Back in Lagos on Thursday, Tinubu noted “The labour union has gone on strike four times within my nine months in government. That’s a record. Calling for a strike in just nine months of an administration is unacceptable.
“The NLC is not the only voice of Nigerians. It should wait till 2027 if it is interested in joining the electoral process.”
However, Tinubu did not mention the several agreements and promises the NLC said his administration failed to keep, which led to strikes, the latest on Wednesday over hunger in the land.
Presidential Media Adviser Ajuri Ngelale later issued a statement in Abuja which clarified Tinubu advised Labour leaders to refrain from disruptive actions.
“Some labour unions should understand that no matter how we cling to our freedom and rights, to call four strikes within the first nine months of a new administration is unacceptable,” the statement stressed.
“If you want to directly participate in the electoral process, wait until 2027. If not, maintain the peace. Labour is not the only voice of Nigeria.”
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