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Why OPC
will always back NLC’s
strikes, by Gani Adams
By Habib Aruna
Assistant Politics Editor, Lagos
Factional leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC),
Chief Gani Adams said on Monday that the organisation would always support the
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)’s call for strike to protest against
policies that are against the interest and welfare of the Nigerian people.
The OPC leader said any support for the NLC is in the
right direction, since, according to him; it is the only organisation that has
the capacity to challenge the Federal Government’s draconian policies and
insensitiveness to the plight of the people.
Speaking as a guest lecturer at this year’s
Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Television Chapel,
Adams noted that even President Olusegun Obasanjo is like a father figure to
him and that it does not prevent him from criticising his administration.
“Why we will always support the NLC and the
strike option is because the OPC will always stand up against any policy that
is against the people of Nigeria. We supported it because that was the right
thing to do and if we didn’t support the strike, the Federal Government
would not have been forced to reduce the price”, says the OPC leader, who
maintained that without struggle, there was no way any society would be
liberated.
Commenting on the role of the media in a democracy,
Adams commended the Nigerian media for its role in the fight against military
dictatorship, and the emergence of democratic rule. He said with constant
threat to their lives, media practitioners stood solidly behind the people and
for a just society.
“There were times that the Police tried to
create the impression by down playing the activities of the pro-democracy and
civil rights groups, but the press was not cowed. They brought detailed news of
events to the doorstep of Nigerians by giving them genuine information,”
he added.
He however expressed concern that the media has gone
to sleep in the task of closely monitoring the activities of government
officials and holding them accountable to the people. According to him, the
media has dumped the people and are now focusing and giving prominence to the
people who contributed to the ruins in the country.
“My fear now is that now that we have
democracy, the media has suddenly gone to sleep. The media seems to believe
that we have won the battle against tyranny and dictatorship, they now give
prominence to those who wine and dine with the military. These are the people
who did not fight for anything and are now reaping from it because of the
media.
“So I am using the opportunity to call on the
media to wake up from their slumber and face their responsibilities by
protecting the fragile democratic process. 2007 is just around the corner, are
we ready? How ready is the media to correctly monitor the process”, the
OPC leader asked.
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