LAGOS — PRO-DEMOCRACY activist and former General Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori and Isekhure of Benin Kingdom (Chief priest of Benin Kingdom), Chief Nosakhare Isekhure weekend in Lagos, warned that the socio-economic situation in the country was fast drifting the nation toward anarchy.
Both Chiefs Kokori and Nosakhare who spoke at the public presentation of a book; "Strategic Issues on the Dynamics of Industrial Relations," written by the Acting General Secretary of NUPENG, Comrade Elijah Okougbo lamented that the nation’s political actors were relecklessly underming the nation’s hard won democracy through undemocratic conducts.
According to Chief Kokori, those who fought against democracy, against freedom and against justice were those now reaping the dividends of democracy while those who actually fought for the enthronment of democracy had been relegated to the background and sometimes harassed and intimidated.
He asked: "Do Nigerians expect these people who fought against democracy, against freedom and justice to manage democracy? No, they cannot manage democracy. In South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) can manage democracy because they fought for it even in the bush. The same thing the SWAPO because they were in the bush fighting for democracy. So, they can manage democracy. But here, those in power never participated in the struggle for democracy. They can afford to undermine it."
The former NUPENG General Secretary however, faulted what he called the increasing cases of confrontation between employers (government) and employees, which often resulted to strikes.
He said: "There are too much strikes now in Nigeria, especially avoidable strikes. Most of these strikes could be avoided through dialogue.
On his part, Chief Isekhure said: "If one takes a critical look at things in the country today and with the emphasis on ‘might is right’ as a policy of governance, the nation has drifted towards anarchy and its consequent results. Unfortunately, political rhetoric’s and self awarded pass marks of performance and respect for labour issues cannot erase this understanding. There is need therefore on the part of employers of labour and labour unions to get down to study the factors that cause trade disputes, rationalise them and see how best to resolve issues amicably.
