As the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warms up to elect new executive to run the affairs of the union for the next three years, a plot by the Edo State Government to impose a particular candidate on the state NLC has been uncovered.
It was learnt that following the state government’s plan to sponsor and impose its preferred candidate – Comrade Dion Olaiye – an individual some persons regard as an agbero (tout), two forces have emerged in Edo State NLC. While the first force majorly workers are of the progressive, the second force is said to have been led by the Secretary to the State Government(SSG). The progressives, it was learnt, is championing a course with the slogan ‘let workers vote for a worker’, while the SSG led faction is championing an imposition course. The government of Edo State is said to be hell-bent in installing a political ally to lead the NLC in the state.
The choice of Olaiye by the state government is not far fetched. It was learnt that he has been positioned by the state government to manipulate the forthcoming House of Assembly election in the state, and being an NLC chairman will position him well to carry out the mandate.
According to findings, the state government has, through Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, Esq, consequently given directive to the Head of Service in the state, the Chief of Staff, some Permanent Secretary and Commissioners to order all civil servants to make sure they deliver Olaiye in tomorrow’s election. The core civil servants were said to have received threat of sack, deployment to rural areas should they refused to vote for Olaiye as the next chairman of NLC in the state.
According to findings, meeting as regards delivering Comrade Olaiye as the next NLC in the state was held this morning, Monday, March 6, by the Secretary to the State Government with stakeholders in the civil service wherein a stern warning was given to them to mandate civil servants under them to vote for Olaiye or be sanctioned.
Findings by our Correspondent revealed that the opposing faction in the contest had written series of letters to the national body of the NLC, questing the credentials of Olaiye, but unfortunately, it was learnt that nothing has been done.
The Comrade Joseph Ajero led national body of the NLC, investigation revealed, has compromised hence the pretense of not seeing what is happening in Edo State NLC. Comrade Ajero was said to have been told by the President of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to support Olaiye, who is theirs. Olaiye is a member of the NURTW and the present chairman of the union in the state.
Consequently, according to our findings, Ajero has given the national delegates coming to conduct the election to make sure they deliver Comarde Olaiye as the NLC chairman.
Obaseki pockets NLC in Edo
