From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Veterans and Trade Unionists Assembly has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) Julius Abure, over allegations of corruption levelled against him.
Veteran Labour Leader, Comrade Isah Tijjani made this call at a media briefing on Monday in Abuja, and said the trial and subsequent conviction of Abure would serve as a deterrent to aspiring younger politicians, particularly those from trade union backgrounds.
The former Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), also called for the resignation of Mr.Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, over his poor leadership style.
He lamented that the NLC under comrade Joe Ajaero, has continued to register huge losses in both the field of Industrial Relations and in the battle to recover and reposition the Labour Party.
“Just as the fight of Nigerian workers for a new minimum wage is being badly mismanaged by comrade Ajaero’s poor leadership style, so also the raging battle for the soul of Labour Party is today suffering from the same fate, of Joe Ajaero’s managerial incompetence.
“This extraordinary meeting, which is mainly summoned in order to express our strong collective voice against the ongoing show of shame, being flagrantly exhibited by the duo of Julius Abure, the ever cunning, colourless and character-challenged Chairman of the Labour Party and Comrade Joe Ajaero, the egoistic and highly bigoted President of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“I am sure, you will all agree with me, that no labour Veteran worthy of his name, can afford to ignore the stinking scandals and series of putrid claims and counterclaims of financial pillages going on in the Labour Party, a party we all toiled and selflessly struggled to establish, with a view to speedily liberate our country and the labouring masses, from the clutches of multi-dimensional poverty, hunger, ignorance, disease and endemic exploitation.
“It is with undiminished pain in our hearts, that today we share with you, the agony of witnessing the ongoing mindless debasing of the cherished ideals for the attainment of which, the Labour Party was founded, that is, to serve as a strong and viable instrument for workers complete emancipation.
“Instead of proudly upholding these noble ideals, a handful of avaricious, power-hungry political fraudsters, have since deployed several criminal subterfuges through which, they have succeeded in turning the nation’s promising workers’ party into a colossal political travesty.
“The cumulative effect of this unfortunate development is that the political prospects signalled by the entry of this popular party into the contest for power in our dear country, are fast eroding into an unfathomable oblivion.
“This disagreeable decadence gripping the party is being given tangible expression by the irony of the corrupt party leaders closing the gate of the party firmly against millions of workers willing to joyously join the party.
“Regrettably, as we speak, this pathetic situation continued unabated, because the NLC which is supposed to play its rightful role as the collective conscience of the party, woefully failed to rise to this enormous responsibility, which she treats with unforgivable levity and reckless abandoned.
“We make bold to assert, that, a quick glance at the current critical issues, by any casual observer, is likely to reveal, that, at the deep roots of these daunting challenges, is the nauseating culture of selfishness under which the very obstinate and highly egocentric president of NLC, comrade Joe Ajaero, has been deeply enmeshed.
“This unwholesome reality, partly explains why in recent times, the NLC under comrade Joe Ajaero, continues to register huge losses in both the field of Industrial Relations and in the battle to recover and reposition the Labour Party.
“Just as the fight of Nigerian workers for a new minimum wage is being badly mismanaged by comrade Ajaero’s poor leadership style, so also the raging battle for the soul of Labour Party is today suffering from the same fate, of Joe Ajaero’s managerial incompetence.”
He explained that the group had made countless efforts to offer the leadership of NLC some cogent advice and meaningful suggestions, on how to inculcate and engender the culture of solidarity, comradeship and collective leadership, adding that “we find no real solace in reporting to all Nigerians through this august Assembly, that, so far these well-spirited offers, were gratuitously rebuffed.”
Comrade Tijjani went further to accuse the National Charman of the Labour Party of corrupt practices while calling for his arrest and prosecution.
“The legion of Labour Veterans is intimately familiar with the damning records of financial sleaze said to have been flagrantly perpetrated by the national chairman of Labour Party(LP), Julius Abure, an inveterate money monger of no mean repute.
“This familiarity has emboldened the rank and file of our members nationwide, to spontaneously join the many well-meaning and patriotic groups and highly spirited individuals who are calling for the immediate arrest and trial of Mr Julius Abure.
“We strongly believe, that his trial and subsequent conviction will serve as a deterrent to aspiring younger politicians, particularly those from trade union backgrounds.
“In this connection, our good members are hereby strongly reaffirming their cardinal demand, that, Abure Must Go.
“In the same vein, it is the common contention of our members, that, what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.
“Hence, our members will not despair, in pointing out the many failings of comrade Joe Ajaero, especially in the sphere of labour unionism, which clearly demonstrate that his well-known choleric temperament and overly undemocratic character, have combined to make him totally unsuitable for labour leadership.
“As the working class continue to take heavy tolls from the many poorly organised labour strikes under Joe Ajaero’s autocratic leadership, coupled with his abysmal failure to reign in the ongoing shenanigans in Labour Party, the red card must be given to him so as to quickly exit the labour scene.
“In other words, the time is now for all of us to resoundingly echo the murmurings of the poor majority, that is, Ajaero Must Go,” he added