Ekiti labour leaders, protesters blast Oshiomhole over subsidy removal

Written by Sam Nwaoko, Ado Ekiti Thursday, 12 January 2012

Chairman of Ekiti State chapter of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Kolawole Olaiya, has lambasted the governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, saying his acceptance to serve in the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme Board (SURE) meant he was against the masses.

Olaiya, who stated this while addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti, during the third day of the ongoing protest against removal of subsidy on petrol, pointed out that “Oshiomhole’s acceptance of the appointment and issuance of a statement in support of subsidy removal was an indication that the former labour leader is no longer on the side of Nigerian masses.”

The march recorded large turnout of people who sang anti-Oshiomhole songs, describing him as “one of those who inflicted pains on Nigerians.”

Wednesday’s march started from Basiri area of Ado Ekiti and marched through Fajuyi Square, Irona to Ijigbo Roundabout.

Olaiya said “we expect him (Oshiomhole) as a former labour leader not to support the removal of subsidy and to be on the side of workers. Issuing a statement that he supports the removal of subsidy means that he supports them.

It means that he has abdicated his former status as a labour leader; he has joined the political leaders to rob workers of their welfare.”

According to Olaiya, “the Edo governor’s table is one of the worst in the country when Labour was agitating for N18,000 minimum wage for workers,” and challenged “Governor Oshiomhole to turn down the appointment if he is a reasonable labour leader as he claims.”

Chairman of NLC in the state, Mr. Ayodeji Aluko, commended the participants for their courage and urged them not to lose hope.

Representative of Bishop Felix Ajakaye of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Raphael Borisade, reiterated that Nigerian leaders were “insincere and not transparent,” adding “they have disappointed us in every sphere of life.”

via Tribune