By Seyi Odewale
A group, Rivers Youth Front, yesterday took a swipe at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Rivers State leadership for declaring that it would not support Governor Nyesom Wike’s presidential bid because of the way the governor treated labour in Rivers State.

The labour, headed by Beatrice Itubo in the state, was quoted by some online media that it would not support Governor Wike’s ambition, alleging that the governor has not done well with workers.

According to the group, the labour union has unfortunately left its duties of agitating strongly against the surreptitious, astronomical hike in fuel price across the country and begun the hatchet job of trying to bring down the governor.

In a statement by the public relations officer of the group, Ted Johnbull, the group said: “Comrade Itubo is rather concerned with running Governor Nyesom Wike down over the Presidential declaration of the Governor, which will be a major achievement for Rivers State and which all well meaning and patriotic Rivers’ people should really around and support wholeheartedly.”

It continued: “We want to state categorically that the Rivers State Government, from available records, has continued to steadily address the bottlenecks in the contributory pension scheme reforms, which was caused by the neglect and cluelessness of the previous administration, and this has ensured that the number of those on the pension queue has been considerably reduced. It is an ongoing process, and the results are there for all to see.”

The group further said Rivers State was the only “one of the few states in the country, which has regularly, promptly and consistently paid workers salaries as at when due, at a time when many states are owing workers salaries for months, on the excuse of the devastation of COVID-19 pandemic”.

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According to the group, Governor Nyesom Wike in the last seven years of his administration has enjoyed a robust relationship with the labour and their unions, building a Labour House for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and inaugurating the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretariat Building, also built by the Rivers State government, adding that “very soon, the 5, 000 jobs promised by the administration for Rivers Youths will come to fruition”.

It accused the labour leadership in the state of being partisan in its comments and dispositions. “The truth of the matter remains that the comments and sentiments of Comrade Beatrice Itubo has little or no impact or influence on who emerges the Presidential flag bearer of the PDP or even the APC where they are hoping and praying and fasting day and night, that what is already an impossibility will magically come to pass and their mentor and leader, will recognised.