Politics

’67 of Members Died As A Result Of NLC Strike In Kaduna’ – NYLF Alleges

Published

4 years ago

July 15, 2021

The national president of Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NLYF), Comrade Eliot Afiyo has disclosed that, no fewer than 67 members of the body lost their lives as a result of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strike in Kaduna.

He noted that the strike was an evil machination contrived by the NLC to increase the hardship of ordinary residents of the state, adding that henceforth, his organization will scuttle such ungodly act.

Recall that the NLC embarked on a 5 day warning strike to protest the sacking of thousands of Kaduna State civil servants following a downsizing policy of the state government.

Afiyo who condemned the NLC’s action in strongest terms, noted that the labour union through its action is simply trying to cause a reign of anarchy.

He added that instead of staging protests against insecurity and other obnoxious policies of the Federal Government, the NLC was busy staging uncalled for protest against a state government for doing what is legally expedient.

“Kaduna State is presently engulfed with insecurity leading to killings, kidnapping and many more. The NLC led by Comrade Ayuba Wabba did not feel any concern that requires mass protest.

“The increase in pump price of petrol has become a recurring decimal and electricity tariff are being increased on quarterly basis yet Comrade Wabba did not think of any minor protest at least to draw the attention of the people, but organised a mass protest because Kaduna State Government wanted to downsize the workforce which constitute only 20% of the population of Kaduna State.

“Even the minimum wage that was approved for the workers is not paid by many state governors and NLC does not bother about it because NLC is yet to implement it for their workers,” he said.

While regretting the massive loss of lives and properties of Kaduna residents as a result of the strike, Afiyo warned Wabba never again contemplate such rash action, saying it will attract the wrath of his group.

“We want to state clearly without mincing words that NYLF would not allow any form of protest by NLC in Kaduna State or any other northern state including Abuja against any other policy except on insecurity. We want to sound a note of warning to Comrade Wabba and his colleagues to stay clear from Kaduna State not to talk of organizing a protest against the downsizing of the workforce.

“We observed with great dismay the last protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kaduna State during which essential services and workers were shut down and forcefully pushed out.

“Doctors and nurses were forced to leave their wards and theatre rooms, electricity cables and transformers were disconnected, water hawkers popularly known as Mai ruwa were threatened and intimidated, markets were closed and traders were chased out.

“All major roads were barricaded pharmacies, patent medical stores, chemists were forcefully closed. As a result, many lives were lost due to lack of medical attention. The NYLF lost sixty seven of her members due to this unconstitutional and selfish desire by NLC,” Afiyo disclosed.

Politics

Obasanjo, Atiku, Obi Meet In Abuja

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi met in Abuja on Saturday.

The trio were among prominent political figures who attended the Tambuwal Colloquium, titled “Leadership, Service and Statesmanship at 60,” held at the New Event Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, in honour of the 60th birthday of former Sokoto State Governor and Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

Atiku confirmed his presence at the event in a post on his X handle, stating that he had arrived at the venue for the colloquium organised to mark Tambuwal’s milestone birthday.

The former vice president also shared images of himself, Obasanjo and Obi at the event.

The event attracted political leaders, statesmen and stakeholders from across the country.

Politics

PANDEF Wades Into Rivers Crisis, Sets Up Seven-member Mediation Team

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has intervened in the political crisis in Rivers State, calling on all actors to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in the interest of the development of the state and the region in general.

Expressing concern that the political disagreement involving the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly might degenerate to total lawlessness, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF set up a seven-member reconciliation team to resolve the issues.

The team, which is headed by a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, has six other members.

They are Senator Obende Domingo (Vice Chairman); Chief Essien Nduese; Dr Timiebi Koripamo-Agari; Chief Mike Ejiofor; Mrs Nella Rabana-Andem, SAN; and Prince Godwin Okotie, the Deputy National Secretary of PANDEF, who will serve as the secretary of the team.

Politics

Wike: Why Removing Fubara Will Be Difficult – Ex-Commissioner

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

A former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Austin Tam-George, has said that attempts to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara would be difficult to sustain, citing what he described as the governor’s performance record and the lack of concrete allegations against him.

Tam-George made the remarks on Thursday while speaking on Prime Time on Arise Television, arguing that the impeachment process being initiated against Fubara was to scuttle his chance for a second term.

According to him, Governor Fubara has continued to place the needs of the people at the centre of his administration, with visible interventions in rural development, housing, education and healthcare.

He said this, in his view, has made it difficult for opponents to justify moves to remove the governor from office.

Tam-George also called on the All Progressives Congress, APC, to intervene, arguing that the party should not allow what he described as the humiliation of a sitting governor.

He said: “Well, all I think he needs to do is to do exactly what he’s been doing from the beginning, which is to place the people at the center of gravity of his administration, prioritize the needs of the people, so that the people can see the direct impact of government action in their lives.

“And that’s exactly what he’s doing in terms of rural development, in terms of housing sector transformation, which I mentioned that he is doing the same in education sector and in health.

“So if he continues, if he persists in placing the people’s need at the center of focus of his administration, there is no way they are going to be able to justify this kind of shenanigans.

“Because, if you look very carefully at the so called articles of impeachment, you will see that there is no specificity in terms of any infraction by the governor or his deputy.

“What they are trying to do is to make sure they scuttle the administration so that the governor doesn’t then get to the point where he will be seeking a second term.

“Let me be clear, just two days ago, Nyesom Wike was at one of the local governments, and he made it clear in a moment of epiphany, he made it clear that, look, if Governor Fubara were to get a second term in office, it will amount to his own political burial.

“So all of these things that we are seeing the so called impeachment proceedings they’ve initiated, it’s actually an effort to try to scuttle the prospects of the governor coming for a second term, and I don’t see how they will succeed.

“If you look at the so called articles of impeachment, as I said, they lack specificity in terms of the kind of infraction that they allege that the governor has committed. He has done nothing wrong, and they will see how the process will play out.

“My sense, and in fact, if I were to advise the governor, my sense is that he should just maintain the people, retain the people at the center of gravity of his administration, meet their needs, run a transparent administration as he always done, and then the truth will come out, and he will be able to defend the administration.

“I think the the governing APC should also step in because they can’t possibly allow the governor of the office with probably one of the best performance records in the country to be humiliated by some of these members of the assembly.”