Proposed labour strike stalls PDP transition programme

PDP_News_11-4-11EVEN as the strike planned by the organised Labour over the removal of subsidy on petroleum products is yet to begin, it has claimed a major casualty as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday announced the postponement of congresses billed to take off tomorrow.

Although a statement issued by the National Secretary of the party, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, after an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party explained that the postponement was to allow state chapters tidy the exercise, The Guardian learnt that Labour’s decision to embark on the strike beginning from Monday, compelled the party to hold the emergency meeting where the position to postpone the congresses was taken.

It was also gathered that before labour met and took the decision, there had been pressure on its leadership not to allow the strike take place but at the meeting where the decision was reached, most of the people in attendance urged the leadership to go ahead and declare a total strike.

A statement signed by Alkali declaring the resolution of NWC, reads in part: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met on Thursday, 5th January, 2012 and reviewed developments in the party and the nation. Specifically, the National Working Committee (NWC) reviewed preparations for the forthcoming congresses and the National Convention of the party. To ensure a smooth and successful exercise, the state chairmen of the party were invited and briefed on the state of preparations on Wednesday, January4th, 2012.

“After thorough deliberations on reports arising from the meeting with the state chairmen, the National Working Committee (NWC), conscious of its resolve to ensure credible and transparent congresses and National Convention, has decided to postpone the take-off of the exercise in order to give the state chapters enough time to mobilize our members nationwide. New dates will be announced in due course.

“Similarly, the National Working Committee (NWC) wishes to call on the organised Labour, civil society organisations, student associations and Nigerians in general to exercise restraint in their utterances and actions over the recent government policy on the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.”

While it is conceded that there are bound to be legitimate fears and concerns over every new government policy, “we should all be mindful of some anti democratic forces who, for their own selfish reasons are trying desperately to take advantage of this situation to undermine the unity, peace and security of our nation.”

The statement further said: “The fact of the matter is that the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry is a patriotic decision taken by government in the overall interest of all Nigerians. The initial accompanying pains will definitely be diminished by the long-term benefits of the policy to each and every Nigerian.

“We therefore once again call on all Nigerians, especially the organised Labour, civil organisations, students associations and other interest groups to embrace the dialogue option already offered by the Federal Government in order to resolve any issues arising from this laudable policy. We should do everything possible to support President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in his deep commitment and determination to transform Nigeria into one of the leading nations in the world.”

Meanwhile, the re-run election in the Rivers East Senatorial district yesterday was characterised by unprecedented voter apathy in the eight local council areas in the district, including Port Harcourt.

Quite unlike the April 2011 general elections, most voters in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt councils stayed away from the polling stations. The situation was also the same in Emohua, Omuma, Ogu-bolo, Okrika and Etche.

The Rivers East senatorial district election in which 11 political parties participated in the April 2011 polls, and for which INEC had declared Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Senator George Sekibo as winner, was voided by a tribunal based on a petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) and its candidate, Mr. Chizi Michaels-Atata.

Michaels-Atata whose party logo and his name were omitted from the ballot paper, got court order restraining INEC from going ahead with the election until the AA’s logo and his name were included. INEC ignored the court order and proceeded with the election.

Based on this, AA and Michaels-Atata decided to challenge the outcome of the election at the lower court where he won his case. Not satisfied, Sekibo filed an appeal at the appellate court and lost.