Comrade Emmanuel Bankole, Ogun State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
Opinion divided sharply into two irreconcilable divergent standpoints yesterday at MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta where Ogun State was celebrating Nigeria’s 61st Independence Anniversary when the Chairman of the organized labour in the state, Comrade Emmanuel Bankole stood against Governor Dapo Abiodun to insist that the anniversary was not worth celebrating.
The Ogun State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Bankole as one of the special dignitaries at the state function had been accorded the honour, alongside others of his ilk, to congratulate Nigerians, the state and the governor on the occasion of the national celebration.
But unlike others who had obediently delivered florid speeches, praising Mr. Governor and Nigerians, Comrade Bankole shocked not a few people when he started his speech by declaring that yesterday’s national day did not call for champagne popping or clicking of glasses.
Asking rhetorically: “Is Nigeria today the one we dreamt of at independence?”
The labour leader answered in the negative insisting that the day was not worth celebrating as he gave several reasons to prove his point.
Among many shortfalls of the leaders of the country, Comrade Bankole noted that the ongoing National Association of Resident Doctor’s (NARD) strike in the country was precipitated by governments’ failure to provide basic amenities of life.
He pointed out that the situation is now so critical as the nation’s currency was no longer what it used to be at independence. He said many had traveled out of the country out of sheer frustration noting that instead of developing the health sector, Nigerian leaders take pride in going abroad on medical tourism.
He begged the nation’s leaders to utilize well the mandates given to them by the people and to respect the sanctity of the unity of the country.
However, Governor Abiodun in his own speech pointed out that despite all the challenges confronting the nation, that we are still united together as one was worth celebrating.
The governor pointed out that the country survived a civil war and series of economic depressions, woes and challenges and yet still surviving together as one is commendable hence worth celebrating.
Governor Abiodun noted that rather than dismissing the country as a failed state, its citizens should see it as “work in progress” insisting that a Nigeria of our dream could be achieved if we work at it.
He pointed out that there are bound to be crises noting that even heroes of Nigeria’s independence had their individual differences which were put aside.
He urged Nigerians not to scoff at opportunities to come together to discuss so that we could forge ahead.
In his own speech at the national day celebration, Navy Commodore Kayode Olofinmoyin (rtd), a one time military administrator of the state gave kudos to the states that had gone to court over VAT debacle.
He posited that that is the beauty of democracy, pointing out that if they succeeded in court, it would be the beginning of restructuring.
