Politics

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

Published

3 years ago

July 15, 2021

Editor

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

JUST IN: Ex-PDP Deputy National Chair, Oyedokun Defects To APC

Published

8 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, has resigned his membership of the party and announced defection to the All Progressives Congress.

Oyedokun, a notable personality within the political circle in Osun State and beyond, said he decided to dump the PDP after consultation with his loyalists.

He said he would be joining APC, where his experience, efforts, and leadership roles would be valued and appreciated.

His resignation letter addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP through the ward, local government and state chairmen of the party obtained late Thursday further read, “As a functional member and leader of PDP (Ward 13, Jagun/ Osi-Bale Ode, Odo-Otin South Local Government, Osun State,) whose high electoral productivity and value have been credibly and positively acknowledged in my ward, across the local council, state and country-wide for the enhancement of the fortune of the PDP, I have the honour (though with pain) in announcing the renunciation of my membership of the party on principle, having observed that the ideals of we, founding members, had been sorely contaminated.

“In taking this step which is not even without due consultation with my teaming loyalists in the PDP, I have consequently decided to shift my allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) where I believe my experience, efforts and leadership roles would be valued and appreciated.”

Oyedokun’s defection to the APC is coming at the time the aspirant he supported during the 2022 Osun governorship primary of PDP, Mr Dotun Babayemi is also moving to the national ruling party.

Osun APC said on Wednesday that Babayemi and his supporters would be dumping PDP and joining the party at a rally scheduled to be held in Osogbo on Friday.
PUNCH

Politics

Poll: APC Has No Sellable Candidate, Nothing To Campaign On – Edo Govt

Published

3 days ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

The Edo State Government claimed on Monday that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has no credible candidate for the September 21 governorship election.

This was an assertion made by the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, at a press conference in Benin City.

Nehikhare also alleged that the party is using lies and propaganda as its campaign strategy.

According to him: “The only APC strategy for the governorship election is to resort to lies and propaganda. When a party takes lies and propaganda as an election strategy, it means it has nothing to offer the people. The party lacks people with character, capacity, and intellect.”

The commissioner who took journalists through a screened shot WhatsApp chat said: “What we have here is the official APC WhatsApp platform, their own people screenshot their discussion. One of them who has a conscience asks, is this the only thing we have?”

Nehikhare, who said APC is ashamed to campaign for its candidate, noted that, as of today, nobody had heard of what the party has for the state.

“All we heard is how they are going to help their paymaster, lies and propaganda that will not help the state,” he added.

He opined that lies and propaganda are not strategies the opposition party, like APC, can use to win the September 21 governorship election.

The commissioner, who warned against misinformation and fake news ahead of the governorship election, urged media practitioners to be neutral in matters concerning lies and propaganda.

He, however, noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration has a lot of achievements to market and sell its candidate for the election.

Politics

Defection: Edo Govt, Ex-PDP BoT Member, Idahosa In Verbal War

Published

3 days ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

Edo State government and a former member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, Charles Idahosa, on Monday traded words over the latter defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Recall that Idahosa resigned
formally resigned who had last month resigned from PDP, rejoined the APC on Monday in Benin City.

Speaking during his formal presentation to the APC in Benin City, he noted that he left the party four years ago due to internal crisis.

Idahosa added that he dumped the PDP because of what he described as the “damning deeds of the Obaseki-led administration in the last four years”.

He took a swipe at Obaseki for saying that PDP would win the forthcoming September governorship election with 80 per cent of votes.

“I thank God, four years later we all are wiser now. Like the Secretary said, I was a founding member of ACD, ACN and APC. The damage we did four years ago, the APC never remained the same.

“But I am glad we are back to the family. I was nominated to the Board of the Railway when I was in the APC. When I moved to the PDP, I wrote to resign my membership but it was rejected and showed my wide acceptance.

“At 71, I am not here to contest position with anybody, I am here to work. I want to urge APC to keep their eyes on the ball. It is not over until it is over.”

While lambasting Governor Obaseki for his comment that those leaving PDP have been given money, he noted that his greatest regret was not allowing the governor to resign after his first four years in office.

“When he came to beg me like a weather beaten chicken, how much did he give to me? Anytime he goes religious gathering he would say those leaving PDP have been given money.

“He came to me three times in my house to say he wants to resign, that he was tired of being governor but I appealed to him, telling him it was not about him but Benin interest.”

But in a swift reaction, the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare alleged that Idahosa was never a PDP member.

Nehikhare noted that Idahosa was also never a BOT member of the party, because the party in the state rejected his nomination.

He alleged that it was as a result of the rejection that he found his way back to APC.

“I heard that he claimed to be a member of BOT of PDP but I want to challenge him to tell us when he was sworn in as a member of PDP BOT. He was not a fit and proper person. Even though he was nominated he was shunned by the party.

“It was this that drove him back to APC which he never left in the first place. He was holding on to the board appointment which was offered him while in APC prior to 2020 governorship election.

“He has reached the end of his political career. He has nothing to offer any political party or any group he joins because he believes in bread and butter politics,” Nehikhare said.