By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
As anxiety mounts over the planned indefinite strike by the organized labour, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun has urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to shelve the planned October 3 indefinite strike .
The Olubadan said this in his 63rd independence day anniversary message made available to journalists by his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola
Oba Balogun emphasized that the organized labour should explore ways of resolving the vexatious issues and the government on its side should not overstretch the people, adding that there must be tangible measures to reassure the people that the renewed hope agenda is truly for real.
The royal father in congratulating President Bola Tinubu, his Vice, Sen. Kashim Shettima, states’ governors, the NASS members, other political leaders and the generality of Nigerians charged the labour leaders to prevail on their members to bear with the present administration with the mindset that no problem could be solved with another problem.
“I plead for dialogue between the labour and the government and in dialoguing, 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”, he said .
Oba Balogun added, “I want our labour leaders to cast their minds back to the last prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) 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”.
While acknowledging the position of the labour movement vis-a-viz the plight of workers and the generality of the people, Oba Balogun noted “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 in view of what it inherited”.
” Let’s be optimistic that with time, the situation would become normal. The President is a man of his words and there’s 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 promise Nigerians before the election”, Olubadan pleaded further.”
Oba Balogun while asking the President and his team to come up with some urgent decisions and actions that would cushion the effect of some of the already rolled-out policies, reminded the government leaders to know that human endurance is not limitless and should not stretch Nigerians beyond the limit.
“As somebody at advantage position, having been a member of the National Assembly in the past, I can understand and appreciate the pains leaders go through when things seem not working according to expectation and plan, it is part of leadership prize. In a critical situation like this, leaders need divine touch, understanding and compassion on the part of the people and God will guide us right”,
According to Oba Balogun “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.
“Let’s remain optimistic, committed and steadfast with unshakeable faith in God for a better and prosperous nation that all of us would be proud of once again. Happy Independence Day Anniversary”,
