The Organised labour movement has held another rally for Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his second term bid as governor to enable him complete the projects he has started, even as the labour unions said July 14 will determine if President Goodluck Jonathan is ready or not for transformation in the country.
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar who disclosed this during a rally organized by the Youth Wing of Organized labour in Benin City Saturday said the labour movement is proud of Comrade Oshiomhole’s performance in three and half years in Government House.
On his part, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, challenged the PDP candidate, Maj.-Gen Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) to join him on a walk round the markets in Benin City to test their popularity with the electorate.
According to the NLC President, “we will rally round Oshiomhole because he is not an ordinary politician who diverts the money of the state for personal reasons but rather he has proved that union leaders can be good administrators. We have every right to rally round him because he has not failed us, we are proud of him and we will match our words with action,” he noted
According to him, the Peoples Democratic Party set up a 49-member team to ensure victory for their candidate but the entire workers in the state will rally round Oshiomhole.
The NLC president who disclosed that Nigerians are watching if President Jonathan will allow the people to determine who rules them in Edo State noted that an injury to one is an injury to all.
Similarly, President of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Peter Esele said the people want continuity of progress, that is why they are behind Comrade Oshiomhole who has delivered the dividends of democracy.
“Oshiomhole is excellent. If he has delivered why do you want somebody else,” he asked the large turnout of youths organized labour that defied the heavy downpour.
While challenging the PDP candidate to a popularity test, Oshiomhole said “let them come and we will go to the Oba market together to buy tomatoes and pepper, let us go to Uwelu market together and buy spare parts without policemen, without soldiers, just the people and let’s see if they won’t put pepper in their eyes.”
He praised the leadership of the labour unions for the rally saying “the presidents of the NLC and TUC who are the genuine commanders of the productive forces are here today to give us the support as we take Edo State from the ashes of old to a new Edo State. I am protected by the forces that matter,” he noted.
Comrade Oshiomhole said how come those who are celebrated as godfathers of Edo politics have been demoralized and they now concede they need external help from Abuja and they have denied themselves, saying they are no longer old PDP.
While urging the people of Edo State never to be afraid because they are the landlord when the oppressors run to seek federal might, the governor said those feasting on their wealth are now in trouble.
In his words, “July 14 will determine if President Jonathan is ready for transformation. The people will know if they have a president of Nigeria or President of the PDP.”
He however noted that the good news is that President Jonathan knows he is President of the nation and he will not allow a godfather to allow him to derail.
