The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been encouraged by the African Action Congress (AAC) to stop endorsing Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
This was announced by the AAC in a statement penned by its spokesperson, Femi Adeyeye, on Tuesday.
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the NLC both endorsed Obi for the 2023 elections in June.
Mixed feelings have been expressed in response to the labor unions’ proclamation of support for Obi’s candidacy.
If elected president, Obi indicated in an interview with CNN that he would encourage the private sector to construct and run refineries.
There is no reason why our refineries cannot operate; let’s use the oil problem as an example. The previous governor of Anambra had said, “There is no reason why we shouldn’t encourage the private sector to establish and run refineries.
“They are not complicated; they can be completed as soon as feasible. You can choose to end gasoline subsidies, put funds toward supporting crucial sectors of production, such as key infrastructure and education, and promote refinery investment, all of which will be completed as quickly as feasible.
In response to Obi’s remarks, the AAC charged that the former governor of Anambra had hijacked the party and moved the LP away from its “pro-worker” doctrine.
According to the party, Omoyele Sowore is the “sole pro-labor and pro-masses” candidate running for president in the 2023 elections.
The statement continues, “Mr. Peter Obi and the new Labour Party (LP) position on the elimination of fuel subsidies and the privatization of the commanding heights of the economy is more than evident to everybody now.
“Mr. Peter Obi made it very clear on CNN live on Saturday that all subsidies should be eliminated and that the private sector should begin refining fuel.
“Since the January rebellion against the withdrawal of gasoline subsidies in the year 2012, this is in contrast with the NLC charter of demands and the position of the Congress.
“NLC and TUC must take note that millions of Nigerians protested the Jonathan administration over the elimination of fuel subsidies, out of concern for the rise in gasoline prices and general expense of living.
“As of today, the rallies against subsidy elimination are legitimate. Due to the Buhari government’s intermittent removal of subsidies and payment of phony subsidies, the price of gasoline has absurdly increased to N250 today.
“Gasoline costs N800, while diesel and kerosene are equally priced at N800. As business is becoming more competitive and aviation fuel is now costing about N1000 per litre, airlines are starting to pack their cargo.
“We urge Festus Osifo and President Ayuba Wabba to stop supporting Peter Obi because he has only halted the Labour Party’s progress toward pro-workerist principles.
We also urge the NEC of the NLC and TUC to stand up and firmly oppose this usurper of the blood and sweat of our martyrs and heroes known as the labor movement.
“How can Labour centers back a worker adversary who presided over a two-year worker strike, a 13-month doctors’ strike, and a governor of Anambra who refused to pay pensions for 11 months?
“The same Peter Obi has commercialized the Labour Party to the point where no uncorruptible comrade can run for office in the party because tickets are sold off in the tens and hundreds of millions.
Even well-known Labour activists who had won LP tickets before Obi arrived to take over the party, he claimed, had had their candidacies fraudulently revoked.
