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NLC Tasks Jonathan On Credible Elections
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure credible elections in 2011 to allow for growth and development.
In a statement jointly signed by its President, Mr. Abdulwahed Omar and General Secretary, Mr. John Odah and made available to The Tide, the NLC urged the President to consolidate on one of the desires of late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
“Yar’Adua’s administration was determined to institute a credible electoral process against political opposition and twisted philosophy of mainstream elements of the ruling party”.
It confirmed, “it will help to stamp Jonathan’s footprint in the sand of Nigerian history as the President who ushered in the era of credible electoral process in the country,” it said.
It noted that Jonathan would have left an enduring legacy if he could mobilise and summon the needed courage to deliver most significantly on the issue of credible elections.
The statement said that the late president’s policy of rule of law appealed to Nigerians as one of the salient democratic ethos.
According to the NLC, the policy was more a reawakening in the justile system, particularly against the backdrop of past government’s when labour movements had very unpleasant and traumatic experiences.
It noted that the late president’s visions are agenda for Nigeria as a great nation as encapsulated in his 7-point agenda showed his sense of national pride and consciousness.
“Undoubtedly, areas such as energy, security, infrastructure, education, transportation and his master plan for the Niger Delta, are essential to our national development, especially their capacity for employment and wealth generation”, it noted.
The congress described the death of Yar’Adua as a tragic blow to the country in many respects.
“He died at a relatively young age and at the time he was bringing the perspectives of the younger generation of Nigeria to the governance process in the country”, it said.
According to the NLC, though Yar’Adua’s stay in power was brief, he was able to restore some degree of confidence in the political leadership, through some practical steps he took to resolve critical national problems.
Sogbeba Dokubo