NLC reconciliation fails as Ajaero berates Oshiomhole

THE efforts made by some labour veterans to mediate in the disagreement in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have failed to achieve its aims.

The leader of the aggrieved group, Joe Ajaero blamed governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole for the failure of the negotiators to reach agreement on the issues that were discussed. Oshiomhole has shunned the reconciliation meeting to pay a courtesy visit on the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba where he declared that those that lost election do not need any persuasion to accept defeat even before they are pronounced defeated. This comment obviously angered Ajaero group.

In a prepared speech with the name of the NLC but with no logo or any official emblem, read by Ajaero, the group berated Oshiomhole for ignoring the reconciliation meeting held in Abuja but rather decided to pay a courtesy visit on the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba.

Ajaero said: “We are surprised with some statements credited to the Comrade Governor which unfortunately showed Adams deviating the time honoured path of comradeship and statesmanship. He gave a false impression that of us as bad losers when indeed he is an inconsistent and mediator. It is interesting that Comrade Adams urged us to emulate President Jonathan who conceded in a free and fair presidential election and not him refused to concede when he was callously rigged out during the governorship election in 2007. All the members of labour movement supported and stood with him in solidarity to get justice for his stolen mandate. What was good for Comrade Adams is good for other comrades including us.”

Ajaero also faulted the alignment of Oshiomhole to the general understanding that the process that produced the Ayuba Wabba-led executive was free, fair and transparent. Even though he declined to name names of those that has faulted the process, Ajaero added: “The Comrade governor was also reportedly to have said the NLC rescheduled election was transparent, free and fair. He cannot be holier than that Pope. If everybody agreed there was a deficiency in the NLC’s elections, the Comrade Governor cannot be the only exception.”
Ajaero then advised the one-time President of Congress to move from problem compounding to problem solving approach in resolving the crisis in the movement.

The group said despite Oshiomhole declaring support for the Ayuba-led leadership which may eventually lead to the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led Federal Government recognizing the elected NLC leadership upon assumption of office on May 29th, it remains undeterred.

Ajaero also lambasted Oshiomhole for always seeking personal gains at the detriment of national development.
It then issued a stern warning to the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari thus: “We warn the new President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari to work with the labour movement on the terms of the working people that belong to it NOT on the terms of the likes of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who pursues more of personal agenda than national development objectives. We are happy that the President-elect has reassured Nigerians that he will promote positive changes.”
Ajaero then described himself and his colleagues as genuine agents of change