Mu’ azu slams NLC on Ekiti poll


 PDP Chairman Adamu Mu'azu

Abdulwaheed Omar
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu has accused the National Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar of attempt to mess up the PDP.

Mu'azu chided Omar while exchanging pleasantries with the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani at the ground-breaking and foundation laying ceremony of the Centenary City, held along airport road in Abuja.

It was exclusively gathered that Omar, came to the front row clearly to exchange greetings with the PDP chairman when he got the lash.

Omar was cold and almost speechless.
Incidentally calling the attention of the former senate president to the short reaction, Mu’azu said, "see this man o. He went to Ekiti to mess me up....".

He told Nnamani while the three had a brisk reaction. Nnamani partially exclaimed followed by a soft giggle while omar quietly walked away.
The NLC President, days before the June 21st Ekiti governorship election visited Ekiti, leading a delegation of the union’s Central Working Committee (CWC) to campaign in support of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
He expressed optimism to get invitation for a congratulatory tea party after the election. Omar stated that Fayemi had performed during his four years tenure as governor of the state, thus deserve a second term.      
“Ekiti is capable of not taking dictation from any quarters. They are going to do justice to the election. We are surprised by a lot of attention regarding our coming here to hold our routine meeting. We don’t see any reason why anyone will interfere with that. Our consolation is that whether or not an election is going to take place, we know and can always identify with people who have identified with the movement.
“We are Nigerians coming to hold our meeting and no one can harass us. Your antecedent in labour movement is not something people don’t know and so, we have every cause to be here to identify with you.
“During the June 12 struggles, was Fayemi not a part of that struggle and challenge? Our people also moved round the capital yesterday and did not see any sign of violence or de­struction. We don’t shy away from the truth.
“We believe the election will be free and non-violent if the powers that be will allow the people to freely make their choice. And no one will like to go backward after having gone this far re­garding development in the state.”
Meanwhile, a day to the election proper, selected bodies and political parties including the labour condemned the use of military to check violence in the state.   
The union had described the gesture as efforts of the PDP to further achieve what it described as “dirty job” is “nihilistic.”
In a statement the union issued last Friday, the NLC decried treatment melted to APC chieftains on denial to rally support for Fayemi in Ekiti.
“We at the Congress believe the orders are a violation of Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which states that, ‘For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”
“The hypocrisy of ‘these orders’ is laid bare by the their selective implementation as the Ministers of Defence and Police Affairs, (both of PDP), Messrs Musiliu Obanikoro and Jelili Adesanya were said to have been given passage with fanfare.
“We warn that those who undermine the democratic and constitutional rights of others not only endanger our democracy but make a bad investment as whatever goes around, comes around. President Jonathan should ensure this never happens again. The cavalier use of our soldiers, especially in furtherance of a dirty job is nihilistic.
“We also find it necessary to caution against the over-militarization of the state as this has the potential of scaring voters from exercising their civic duty,” the statement read.
Present at the event were Governors of Ondo, Abia, Nasarawa, Benue, Jos, Katsina, former governor of Cross River, Liyel Imoke, former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clarke, Ministers of Water Resources, Education, Health, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and top leadership of the PDP.
 
  

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