*says Obi’s visit to NLC rekindles hope for new Nigeria
*describes APC, PDP as chronic failures
By Michael Oche
A group, the Peter Obi Volunteers Electioneering Team (POVET) has pledged to mobilize at least 1 million volunteers who would canvass at the grassroots in every nook and cranny of Nigeria for the actualisation of Peter Obi’s presidential bid.
The group said the resolve by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to support Mr Obi who is running under the platform of the Labour Party rekindles hope for a new Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement signed by its National Coordinator Comrade Abubakar Yakub, and National Secretary, Comrade Echezona Asuzu.
The POVET said the visit by the Labour Party presidential candidate to both the NLC and TUC signifies in a number of ways a major shift in Nigeria’s political landscape because this is the first time that Organized Labour in Nigeria is throwing its weight behind a Presidential Candidate in the run-up to a general election in Nigeria.
The group said given the chronic failure of successive governments in Nigeria to meet basic governance aspirations of citizens, especially since the restoration of democratic rule in 1999, Nigerian workers have decided to move from street activism to electoral activism as a way of actualizing many of the industrial, economic and social demands they have been making on government.
The statement reads further, “Second, the coming of Peter Obi to the Labour House establishes the fact that the Peter Obi’s presidential candidature is a pan Nigerian project. Organized Labour being the most prominent and enduring pan Nigerian organization remains the most consistent emblem of national unity, solidarity, and development.
“This makes the statement that Mr. Peter Obi is a symbol of national unity, solidarity, and development. When Peter Obi talks about moving the country from Sharing to Production formular, he is talking about one of the things that unify us – DECENT JOBS. When Peter Obi asks Nigerians to identify with the Social Democracy ideology of the Labour Party, it is about the critical foundations that unite every Nigerian – effective investment in public schools; public healthcare; and social protection for all. When Peter Obi talks about upgrading our physical infrastructure, he is talking about electricity, roads, waterways and railways that we all use.
“Nigerians understand that any other form of “national unity” is an agenda in deceit, divide-and-rule and plundering the commonwealth.
“Third, Peter Obi’s visit to the Labour House resonates with the desire by most Nigerians for a New Nigeria where there is law and order, where every Nigerian feels secure, where there are equal opportunities for all and where life is in abundance.
“This dream of Nigeria has been the pursuit of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the reason the NLC has for decades been in the forefront of the struggle against incessant increase in petrol price, insecurity, electoral brigandage, economic deprivation, slave wages, hunger, and oppressive industrial cum social policies.
“The partnership between Mr. Peter Obi and labour, especially as midwifed under the illustrious leadership of Comrade Ayuba Wabba, his TUC counterpart and the current national leadership of the Labour Party led by Barr. Julius Abure represents a very strong statement in the collective desire to reclaim Nigeria and recover her destiny as the lighthouse of the black race.”
According to the group, the coming of Mr. Peter Obi to the Labour House signifies the understanding that it is the Nigerian workers, the youth and the long-oppressed people of Nigeria that will make all the difference in the 2023 general election.
“This intent is already manifest in the recent unprecedented surge by millions of Nigerians all over the country to get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC). The ongoing PVC Revolution already signals that the ballot pendulum would swing ‘OBIdiently’ to usher in a New Nigeria of our dreams.”
