NLC Pitch It's Tent With Fayemi For Ekiti Guber Poll

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the weekend, endorsed the re-election bid of Ekiti State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Con­gress (APC), Dr Kayode Fayemi ahead of the June 21 governorship election in the state.

The NLC president, Ab­dulwaheed Omar, leading a delegation of the union’s Central Working Com­mittee (CWC) and several leaders of affiliate unions on a visit to the governor in Ado- Ekiti, however, urged stakeholders, including the Federal Government and the Independent National Elec­toral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the Saturday election is fair and credible.

Omar said Governor Fay­emi has performed credit­ably well and deserving of a second term as governor of the state, adding: “We hope that the governor  will invite us for a tea party after June 21 election, by the special Grace of God.”

The NLC president said Fayemi’s struggle in the la­bour movement was well known, adding that his ex­cellent performance as Gov­ernor of Ekiti State in the last three and a half years did not come as a surprise to the union.

Omar said the union lead­ership had been under in­tense pressure from external bodies not to endorse Fay­emi, but the union refused to bow to the pressure, con­vinced that it was doing the right thing.

He said: “Ekiti is capa­ble of not taking dictation from any quarters. They (the people) are going to do justice to the election. We are surprised by a lot of at­tention regarding our com­ing here to hold our routine meeting. We don’t see any reason why anyone will in­terfere with that. Our conso­lation is that whether or not an election is going to take place, we know and can al­ways identify with people who have identified with the movement.

“We are Nigerians com­ing to hold our meeting and no one can harass us. Your (referring to Fayemi) ante­cedent in labour movement is not something people don’t know and so, we have every cause to be here to identify with you.

“During the June 12 struggles, was Fayemi not a part of that struggle and challenge? Our people also moved round the capital yesterday and did not see any sign of violence or de­struction. We don’t shy away from the truth.

“We believe the election will be free and non-violent if the powers that be will allow the people to freely make their choice. And no one will like to go backward after having gone this far re­garding development in the state.”

Omar warned those he called “external forces” against meddling in the June 21 election, noting that the electorate must be free to make their choice during the poll.

Addressing the rally, Fay­emi, who was accompanied by his deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu and other top gov­ernment officials, said his administration had made workers happy, hence, their resolve to back him for an­other term in office.