Daily Independent Online.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2004.
Bayelsa CNPP opposes FG’s move to restructure NLC
By Emma Gbemudu
Correspondent, Yenagoa
The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP),
Bayelsa State chapter, has criticised the Federal Government’s proposal
to decentralise the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) through a bill it sent to
the National Assembly.
In a statement by its Chairman and Secretary, Mr.
Miriki Ebikibina and Mr. Daniel Williams, CNPP described NLC as the only
surviving voice of the masses, which President Olusegun Obasanjo is trying to
silence. According to the group, the President’s move can be described as
a keg of gunpowder, a potent weapon the President is fashioning to silence
opposition for ever.
“The NLC’s collective action in the
recent industrial strike on the increase of fuel price has not only
demonstrated its oneness but showed that NLC is truly a good vessel of true
democracy,” the group said.
CNPP frowned at the government’s refusal to
handover former Liberian President Charles Taylor to face charges of war crimes
instituted against him. It alleged that many Nigerians in Liberia were killed,
hospitalised and rendered homeless during that country’s civil war led by
Taylor, saying: “The
continued refusal of the federal government to release him to face these war
crimes is unconstitutional, undemocratic and unacceptable to Nigerians.”
The political association lampooned the activities of
Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) since its inception, saying
that the increasing rate of corruption and mass looting recorded at the Presidency,
legislature arms and state governments did not justify the purpose of setting
up the body.
“ICPC’s searchlight beamed only on a few
selected persons, picked and indicted, used as a political intimidation and
retaliation for total submission to the will and powers that be at the
presidency,” the group noted.
It advised that ICPC should be truly independent and
focused, rather than being used as an instrument of threat or intimidation to
settle political scores.
Ebikibina renewed the calling of a sovereign national
conference, where sensitive issues on alleged corrupt practices that can be
thoroughly investigated and convict offenders.
The statement indicated that CNPP was committed to
the eradication of poverty, but it should be done within the confines of the
law with honesty, transparency, devoid of threat, intimidation and personal
interest from any quarter.
