Rivers: Workers reject Abuja peace accord, say Fubara can’t be enslaved
Workers, march in Port Harcourt to reject accord reached by ex-governor Wike and his successor, Fubara over the political crises in Rivers
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Hundreds of workers, under the auspices of the Organized Labour in Rivers, staged a solidarity walk along some major roads in Port Harcourt on Friday to reject the recent peace accord reached by former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara over the political crises in the state.
The workers who terminated their march at Government House expressed their rejection of the agreement, which, they noted, weighed heavily in favour of Wike.
They also declared their support to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while rejecting the eight-point Abuja peace accord.
The workers who were led by the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC Comrade Alex Agwanwor, leaders of the Trade Union Congress, and other affiliate bodies confirm that the civil servants have started receiving their N100,000 Christmas largesse from the Rivers state government as promised by the Governor.
The workers who were received by the State Head of Service, George Nweke, at the Government’s House gate, said the Governor was elected by the people and that the agreement he was allegedly forced to sign did not take into cognizance the overall interest of the people.
They promised to stand by the Governor throughout his travails.
They also said the visit by the labour unions was to thank Governor Fubara for approving N100,000 for all civil servants in the state to celebrate the Yuletide.
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Reading the position of the group, the NLC Chairman, Alex Agwanwor, describes the gesture of Governor Fubara as unprecedented.
On his part, the Chairman of the joint negotiating council, Chuku Emecheta, says the largesse would boost their morale.
Also speaking, Comrade Chijioke Ihunwo, Chairman of National Youths Council Rivers, advised the Governor never to call back all the former Commissioners who voluntarily resigned, citing personal principles and conscience as directed in the agreement.
He queried why the President directed the 27 PDP Lawmakers who defected to APC to remain in their new party and the Governor should represent the budget already passed and signed into law to them without asking them to return to PDP.
They noted that Fubara’s administration is reviving the state Secretariat which was abandoned for eight years by the immediate past administration, despite the hues and cries of civil servants.
The workers said they were forced to manually climb to the 12th floor of the Podium block and up to the 17th floor of Point Blocks without working elevators in the two high-rise buildings to access their offices before now.
The Head of Service promised to deliver their letter to Governor Fubara.