Uzodimma urges NLC to reconsider stand on Imo strike
…Says relationship with workers cordial
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has appealed to the Comrade Joe Ajaero-led Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to reconsider its position on the on-going industrial action in the state in the interest of the masses.
The governor made this appeal on Tuesday even as he promised to look into the immediate and remote causes of the claims by the NLC leadership linking alleged molestation of its members during a botched delegate congress in Imo State last week to the strike.
Addressing newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State capital, shortly after his arrival from Abuja, Governor Uzodimma regretted that additional hardship is meted out on citizens “aside the present fuel and cash situation.”
His word: “Even though the strike is only effective in the power sector in the state, this administration since assumption of office has maintained and is still maintaining a good working relationship with the labour union and workers in the state.”
He noted that the government does not owe any verified worker or pensioner in Imo State “till date as peddled in some quarters,” and appealed to those behind the strike “to reconsider their position in the best interest of the State and the poor masses.”
Uzodimma assured all and sundry, including the NLC, that he will continue to maintain a good working relationship with workers in Imo State, including consulting widely to ensure that the current situation is brought under control.
The governor who appealed to Imo citizens to be calm said it is difficult to believe that Comrade Ajaero who should have used his position for the good of Imo people,” being one of us, initiated the strike.”
“Joe Ajaero’s position should be for the good of Imo people, not the other way round,” he said, and promised to wade into the circumstances of the strike with a view to resolving the issues.
On the likelihood of the strike having political colouration, the Imo State Governor said though it is not unlikely because of the desperation of some politicians, investigations would establish all that and urged Imo citizens, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC) members, to come out en masse on Saturday to vote for the candidates of the party.
Governor Uzodimma reiterated that his administration has taken governance as regards infrastructure development to a level not known to the citizens of the state before now and wondered if the old axiomatic expression of “seeing is believing” no longer applies in Imo State.
“From Owerri-Orlu to Owerri-Okigwe to Owerri–Mbaise-Umuahia to Owerri- Airport and numerous developmental projects in the State and still counting, is anybody still in doubt that this government is for the people? Do you change a winning team? We are deploying the resources of the people to provide services. The only thing the opposition is doing that is known to everyone is propaganda and that is the only area this government will not deploy the people’s scarce resources to,” he explained.
Governor Uzodimma maintained that the APC government has come to stay in Imo State, propaganda notwithstanding.
