Edo NLC Election : Obaseki To Back Road Transport Workers Union Chairman Ahead of State Assembly Election?

By Mike Aladenika

The Edo state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki may have temporarily shifted  his attention from his party abysmal failure at the recent presidential and National Assembly elections in the state to the Nigerian Labour congress,NLC ,election where a new leadership is expected to emerge.

Governor Obaseki, in his determination to reverse the ugly trend recorded in the recent presidential and National Assembly elections in Edo state is believed to de more disposed to supporting  the candidacy of comrade Idion Olaiye, the chairman of the road transport workers union,NURWT and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Egor Local Government Area of Edo state. 

The state NLC election, according to sources, is scheduled for the 7th of March 2023, few days to the INCE organised State Assembly Election

Comrade Olaiye who is presently the acting state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC following the death of the substantive chairman may have been the favoured choice of powerful government officials due to his possible capacity to field "men" from his NURTW to provide "physical backup" to PDP during the election.

The task before Comrade Olaiye appears huge and all eyes will be on him to see how he and his boys go about accomplishing it. 

Although Edo State may not be due for the governorship election until 2024, but the PDP led government's inability  to win sufficient seats in the house of Assembly election will spell doom for the Obaseki administration and its much-vaunted claim of being the party in power as well as controlling the structure 

Expectedly, the decision of the state government to form an alliance with the state NURTW boys may taint the credibility of the election even as it shows desperation on the part of the ruling party to reclaim relevance

Meanwhile, as Labour activists in Nigeria await the conduct of the Edo state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, election, stakeholders are beginning to express worries with the alleged interest of some government  officials to support and impose the current acting chairman who is a card carrying member of the PDP in Egor. 

The struggle and activism of Edo state in the committee of state chapters of NLC has climaxed to the attainment of high office of the NLC Presidency, with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole at the helms of affair, then.

A check through the annals and list of past chairmen and leaders of NLC in Edo State shows that the greatest attribute or quality of chairmen include a good professional background, sound mind, history of track record activism, proficiency in delivery among others. 

The fact that Edo state has produced men of such qualities increased its rating among committee of state chapter. 

Some of the leaders who shared their views on this subject, though anonymously, said "there is no crime for anybody to show support for any candidate as much as nobody can deprive anyone from contesting for as long as such a person is qualified to contest. 

"Edo state chapter of the NLC has grown beyond a stage where someone who can not adequately represent us, someone without our requisite activism anticident, someone without the requisite oratory and communication skill will lead us. 

"While other states are progressing with the quality of leadership they produce, Edo state can not be seen to retrogressing because we want to satisfy some powerful elements in government. 

"Who told you that a refined, presentable, erudite, strong- willed and carrier NLC chairman will not be better, supportive and show better understanding to government policies while providing informed constructive criticism. 

Expectedly, the decision of the state government to form an alliance with the state NURTW boys is expected to be rejected by stakeholders in the labour movement.

According to them, the governor should take a lesson from the crisis in the state chapter of the party where his wrong choice and overbearing has cost him so much damage as reflected in the recently concluded election.

It is then the believe of labour union activists in Edo state that it is "forward ever, backward never".

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