By Francis Sadhere
Factional Chairman, Delta State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Williams Akporeha has said that activities and public comments of Comrade David Ofoyeno, a factional leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Delta state has confirmed that he is desperate for power at the expense of the unity of labour movement in Nigeria.
Comrade Akporeha stated this while reacting to a statement arrogating congress leadership in Delta state to only David Ofoyeno and allegation of nonexistence of factions in the NLC published in the Vanguard newspapers of Tuesday November 17 and credited to David Ofoyeno who is a factional leader of the NLC in Delta State.
Comrade Akporeha explained that David Ofoyeno’s claims are not even close to the truth of the present reconciliation process in the NLC but he is only exhibiting his desperation for leadership to deceive workers in Delta state. Akporeha wondered why Ofoyeno choose to resort to peddle misleading information to undermine the ongoing work of a seven-man peace committee headed by the pioneer NLC president, Comrade Hassan Sumonu. “Sometimes you wonder why those who are desperate for leadership have to descend to a level where they have to tell lies and exhibit their ignorance in the public place”.
On the Delta State NLC front, Comrade Akporeha decried Ofoyeno’s attitude of giving himself credit, celebrating and riding on the back of the NLC crisis to perpetrate blackmail and cheap popularity. He said, “Now let me situate things properly for him; it is on record that over 30 affiliate industrial unions in Delta state identified and participated in the delegates’ congress election that returned me unopposed as Delta state NLC council Chairman for a second term.
“These are verifiable facts and it was same State Executive Council (SEC) he referred to that inaugurated the electoral committee that conducted the congress in the state that returned me.
“Again, it is laughable that Ofoyeno made reference to operating from Labour House when he knew that in his desperation, he used thugs to vandalize the doors threw away my personal belongings to forcefully occupy the place”. “But for the records, let me state clearly that David Ofoyeno does not have the monopoly for that act. It wasn’t difficult for me to mobilize and dislodge him but I am more interested in the unity and strength of the Nigeria labour Congress at the national and state levels”.
Comrade Akporeha reiterated his determination to remain calm but focused for the sake of the ongoing resolution and reconciliation that will strengthen the NLC for better service to the Nigerian worker. He said, “I remain committed and will continue to identify with all efforts aimed at bringing congress out of this crisis because a divided movement undermines cohesion and solidarity therefore I want Comrade David Ofoyeno to understand that the crisis is not resolved until all the issues at stake are comradely resolved in the spirit of reconciliation”.
