LEADERSHIP
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Senate President Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, have saluted Nigerian workers for their resilience, courage and faith in the country.
They sent their goodwill messages yesterday ahead of today’s celebration of May Day also known as Workers’ Day worldwide.
Atiku advised the workers to see this year’s May Day as a moment for sober reflection and stocktaking in view of the myriad of socio-economic problems facing them in the last eight years of the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC’s) administration.
The Wazirin Adamawa, in the message of solidarity with the nation’s workforce, said the lives and welfare of workers and their families hadbeen reduced to the abyss of mere existence due to the litany of policy errors by the ruling APC government, which created insecurity in all facets of workers’ lives: food, shelter, health, wealth and education.
Despite the precarious situation, Atiku enjoined the workers not to despair and cowed, but to keep their heads above water and stay afloat, be resilient and hopeful; for the sake of the younger generation and the country’s future.
“In Nigeria of today, the minimum wage of N30,000 cannot buy a full bag of rice, let alone cloth or pay for a worker’s many utility bills. In fact, hyperinflation in all sectors of our nation has constituted serious socio-economic strangulation to the average Nigerian worker, who’s now poorer than 2015 when APC came to power.”
Atiku extolled the virtues of hard work, perseverance and endurance of the working people in the country.
“It is unimaginable how a government could be so heartless to treat its own bonafide citizens like medieval slaves in colonial plantations. Where are the so-called ‘dividends of democracy’? Labourers do deserve commensurate wages that meet pervading economic conditions of the time. Alas, Nigerian workers now receive wages that can no longer take them home or bring them back to the office!” he lamented.
The former vice president reminded the workers to stand together, with him, to legally reclaim their stolen mandate at the February 25 presidential polls.
“Hope is the breath that keeps people alive. Let’s work together in unity of voice and purpose to retrieve our electoral victory through the law courts. Let’s have faith that the judiciary would be fair and dispense unbiased justice.”
Also, Lawan (Senate president) commended Nigerian workers for their resilience and patriotism even as they celebrate the workers day today.
In a statement he signed, Lawan said throughout the country’s history, Nigerian workers have been remarkable for their patriotism, commitment to nation-building and resilience in the face of serious development challenges…
…Gbajabiamila in a statement said the Nigerian workers have paid their dues over the years, therefore, they deserved to be celebrated always, not just on workers’ day.
Recalling the sacrifices of the Nigerian workers, Gbajabiamila said such would not go in vain, noting that they would continue to reap from their good works.
