The Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC who doubles as the General Secretary ,Textile Workers’ union, Comrade Issa Ar emu has joined “ other well meaning Nigerians and the international community to express our grief and solidarity with the people and government of Kano State on the unfortunate and cowardly bomb blast on Friday November 28, 2014 at Kano Central Mosque which reportedly left scores of worshippers dead and many injured.”
In a statement, Aremu said “When we add serial bombings in parts of Maiduguri and now Yobe, these are attacks getting too many for a country that has not been officially said to be at war. More frightening is the fact that the casualties include Nigeria soldiers and police meant to protect us. Citizens must be assured in concrete and practical terms that workplaces, schools, markets and worship places are safe. The current state of insecurity, if not curtailed will further worsen existing low productivity, ground work places and underdevelop the nation.
“We heartily commiserate with the Governor of Kano State, His Excellency, Dr. Engr Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, the Emir of Kano, HRH, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the government and good people of Kano State on the irreparable losses.
“We sympathize with the families that lost their dear ones in the serial bombings in parts of the country and pray Almighty Allah to grant the departed souls eternal rest.
He however added that “It’s time President Goodluck Jonathan addressed the citizens on the state of the nation. Just today Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta has not only addressed Kenyans but has fired his internal security minister and accepted the resignation of his police chief following the al-Shabaab quarry attack that reportedly killed 36 quarry workers in the north of the country. With well over 5,000 already killed in Nigeria’s insurgency serial attacks, it’s time Nigeria makes a change in its strategy and methodology to these wars of attrition.
“We possibly may not know these dark forces of murder and mayhem. But we know our Commander-in-Chief, Service Chiefs, Defence Minister, Interior Minister, National Security Adviser, State governors, elected and appointed public officers and traditional rulers. They must live to the expectation of their respective oaths of office and ensure inclusive security of all Nigerians. If we can commendably secure political rallies, cultural carnivals, we must be able to guarantee security for all.
Comrade Aremu called on patriots to arise now. “Nigerians certainly have enough frustration to resign into complacency.
“The recent administrative Naira devaluation and hike in interest rate by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will further worsen the deteriorating condition of workers through eroded wages and high prices of basic goods. Indeed government must reverse these ill advised anti-people policies of devaluation of Naira and increase in interest rate.
“There is a Moroccan proverb that says “my country is my country even though it is unjust to me”.
“However regardless of these anti-people policies Nigeria compatriots must heed the first stanza of the National Anthem: “Arise O Compatriots.” With these senseless killings, 2.5 million people displaced, never before is Nigeria calling and we must obey. With as many as 8 million organized workforce in the NLC and TUC, Nigeria parades patriotic workforce. It’s time these compatriots and patriots in the civil society rose to defend lives and property. We salute the patriots who are still standing and remain counted in this age of least resistance by many compatriots notably, His Eminence Abubakar Saad, the Sultan of Sokoto and Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Abuja. Former Military Governor of Kaduna state, Colonel Umar Dangiwa, Professor Wole Soyinka and elder statesman, Emeka Anyaoku and Femi Falana have also rightly warned all compatriots not to be indifferent to the sad development in the North East.
He noted that “Nigeria parades possibly the highest number of past Heads of State that include General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Muhammad Buhari, General Ibrahim Babangida, Ernest Shoneken, General Abdulsalam Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo. It is high times these past Heads of State joined forces with the Federal government and patriotic citizens of the country to terminate insurgency and senseless killings in the country.
