Group faults labour leader’s statement on SNC

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 (SNC) 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 showed that the body was totally detached from the Nigerian masses they represented.

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 own 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 overemphasised. 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 were not truly elected by the people and so were hardly accountable to the masses.