Oba Lekan Balogun
In his statement commemorating Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day Anniversary, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, has appealed to both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to exercise caution in their proposed nationwide strike scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 3.
The Olubadan urges the Federal Government not to overburden Nigerians as the labor union calls for a nationwide strike following a failed meeting between the union and the government.
The Olubadan implores the labor leaders to refrain from the planned strike and instead find ways to resolve the critical problems. He emphasizes the importance of tangible measures to reassure the people that the renewed hope agenda is genuine.
“I plead for dialogue between the labor and government. There should be openness and understanding, bearing in mind that where two elephants fight, it is the grass there that suffers. Let’s be mindful of the effect of total paralysis on our battered economy. Consider the sick, consider the students from our nursery school to the university among several others that would bear the brunt. The loss is simply incalculable.
“I want our labor leaders to cast their minds back to the last prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the effect on our students. How do we compensate for the loss of a whole academic session in the lives of the affected students? Such loss is eternal because it is not possible to wind back the hand of the clock. That’s just an example.” The monarch pleaded.
Balogun acknowledged the position of the labor movement vis-a-viz the plight of workers and the generality of the people, adding “Things are really bad and living in the country becoming hellish for the people day by day, but, we need to apply caution, considering the short time of the present administration so far and given what it inherited. Let’s be optimistic that with time, the situation will become normal.
“The President, Bola Tinubu, is a man of his word and there is no reason to doubt his ability and capability to deliver on his campaign promises. Let’s give him more time and equally assist him with prayers. Very soon, I strongly believe we would be seeing the glimpses of the renewed hope promised Nigerians before the election.” Olubadan promised.
He, therefore, congratulated Tinubu, his Vice, Kashim Shettima, states’ Governors, the NASS members, other political leaders and the generality of Nigerians on this auspicious occasion.
The monarch equally urged them to talk to labor leaders to prevail on their members to bear with the present administration with the mindset that no problem could be solved with another problem.
Olubadan congratulated Nigerians on this year’s anniversary and enjoined them to be thankful to God for keeping Nigeria together irrespective of the myriad of challenges the country has encountered and still encountering.
“Looking back, at 63, we may be tempted to write ourselves off as a nation for not having attained the expected and commensurate height, but, if we think deeply, we will see the need to appreciate and acknowledge the divine touch of God in the affairs of the country and for which I felicitate all,” he submitted.