The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has faulted the statement credited to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Vice-President, Mr. Issa Aremu that the call for a Sovereign National Conference, is unconstitutional.
The NLC Vice-President, stated this while speaking with journalists in Ilorin, kwara State on Tuesday. The labour leader argued that since Nigeria had elected representatives in government, it would be unlawful to organise a SNC.
Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, its Executive Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran noted that the position of the labour shows that the body is totally detached from the Nigerian masses they represent.
He said,”It is so unfortunate that the labour that should know the heartbeat of the masses, is totally detached from the people they are representing. Every well-meaning citizen of this country knows that Nigeria is a country built on injustice, inequity and has been trudging on the faulty foundation for a long time. Nigerians, who owns the sovereignty of this country, said they want to come together and reassess their journey so far and offer workable solutions to the myriads of challenges bedevilling the country and the labour calls that unconstitutional.
Does it mean the labour leadership is comfortable with the way things are going? What else could bring about the desired change? Why oppose a conference of the people which will allow meaningful dialogue and the restructuring of the country for genuine development? The importance of the SNC cannot be overemphasized. Our unity as a nation, may not be negotiable but the terms of our staying together must be ironed out, agreed on and be made into the constitution of the people.”
Speaking further, the human rights crusader averred that many of Nigerians leaders are not truly elected by the people and so are hardly accountable to the masses.
“Many of our elected representatives are not the true reflection of the people’s mandate. Majority of them at all levels of government foisted themselves on the people which is the reason why they are not accountable to the Nigerian citizens. Nigeria is regarded the largest African country with the economy which has the potentials of growing in leaps and bounds, but regrettably, poverty rate is alarming because the so-called ‘representatives’ of the masses are bleeding the coffers of the nation white. How many of them have been recalled or disciplined by their constituents? Nil! Because it is not the people’s vote that got them there in the first instance.
The only way out is for the people to come together and approve another path for themselves because we have not been having representatives in government, the people who have been there and those there now, only protect their personal and parties’ interests,” Adeniran said.
