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LASCO begins mobilisation for strike
•CNPP lends supports
By Victor
Ebimomi,
Rafiu Ajakaiye
(Lagos) and
Emma Gbemudu
(Yenagoa)
Indications are strong that Labour and
Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) is set to go for broke in the nationwide strike
slated for Monday. They started on Wednesday to mobilise and sensitise
Nigerians through symposia and other strategies.
They have a groundswell of support for
their proposed action from Nigerians. For instance, the Conference of Nigerian
Political Parties (CNPP) in Bayelsa State said it is supporting the proposed
strike aimed at forcing the Federal Government to revert to the old pump prices
of petroleum products. CNPP
described as sad and pathetic the arbitrary increase in petroleum products pump
prices.
The President of the Nigeria Supreme
Council of Islamic Affairs and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido,
recently criticised the fuel price hike, saying it had increased the suffering
of the people.
One of the symposia that took place on
Wednesday at the Lagos office of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was attended
by most the civil society groups in the country and the topic of discussion was
‘Obasanjo’s Anti-people Policies: Time to Fight Back’.
Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti of the Centre for
Constitutional Governance and Acting Chairman of the coalition said nothing
would stop the strike since the government had decided to remain recalcitrant
despite condemnation from all strata of the society.
He criticised a body called Reality 2007
that is reportedly kicking against the planned strike, saying the members were
agents of the government.
Also Mr. Segun Sango of the Socialist
Democratic Movement called for a fundamental change that would rewrite the
history of Nigeria forever and for the good of the masses.
The National Auditor of the NLC, Bright
Anokwuru, advised Nigerians to be determined to fight the last battle of their
lives to save the country.
“It is going to be the last
struggle because we are ready to fight the government until the masses are
liberated,” he said. Mrs.
Ngozi Iwere chided the government for subjecting Nigerians to sufferings in the
midst of plenty. Representatives of
the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the Trade Union Congress
of Nigeria (TUC) and other organisations spoke in union that they have resolved
to ensure that government does the wish of the masses.
Chairman of CNPP, Mr. Misiki Ebikibina,
said in Yenagoa that the action of President Olusegun Obasanjo was the height
of insensitivity to the plight of the masses.
“CNPP therefore demand that the
federal government revert to the old pump price and enter into a meaningful and
constructive dialogue with Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),” Ebikibina
explained.
The politician commended the timely
intervention of the president and the resolution reached by Governor Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha and Dr. Peter Odili to check the spate of killings in Rivers
State and the Niger Delta region.
He said: “The truce initiated by
Mr. President among the warring factions is a welcome development that have not
only enhanced peace but create an enabling environment for fair hearing, equity
and dialogue to prevail in resolving the crisis that has been engulfing the
Niger Delta region”.
Ebikibina reasoned that it was
commendable for the two governors to have met and resolved to work together by
ridding the state of cult activities, rather than attributing the crisis to
external influence.
According to the chairman, “If
there has to be desired yearning and need for restoration of genuine democracy
and good governance to the people of the Niger Delta region, then there is the
need for the governors of the south south zones to properly reposition the
Niger Delta region.
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