Sen. Bassey Otu
From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar
The Cross River Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has charged members of the organised labour to vote massively and ensure that their votes count in the 2015 elections.
They stated this in an interactive session with Sen. Bassey Otu, the LP’s flag bearer for the Cross River South Senatorial District at the party secretariat in Calabar.
Speaking through the State’s NLC Chairman, Mr John Ushie, the NLC in Cross River said that labour was determined to ensure that their votes counted in the fort coming elections.
Ushie said that the organised labour in the State has inaugurated a political commission to ensure that votes of members count at the forthcoming elections.
“The LP is the party of the NLC. Our concern as organised labour is that Nigeria should have a free and fair elections. We will prove that point and ensure that our votes count in the forthcoming elections.
“We will vote for you. It is also our responsibility that our votes count in the forthcoming election. In Labour we will vote totally for the candidate of our choice; those we feel that can represent bus and take us there.
“We as a Congress have set up a Political Commission to ensure that our votes count. It was set up last August to sensitise workers and Nigerian as on their rights.This committee cuts across all the 18 local government areas of Cross River. We will mobilise to vote for candidates of our choice,’’ he said.
Speaking earlier, Otu said he was at the NLC secretariat to consult with its hiarachy over his second term senate bid and the need to ensure that their votes count.
He said that in spite of losing out at the PDP primaries in the state he opted for an alternative platform to test his popularity at the 2015 polls, adding that he will respect the verdict of the electorate.
“I believe that by-gone are by-gone. We are looking forward to new things, challenges. I am in Labour Party (LP) today to “let poor man follow chop’’. We are coming here to propagate the ideal of moving Nigeria forward.
He said that his chances to secure his second term in the senate on LP platform was “very bright”’.
Otu said he was confident that the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) would conduct a free and fair elections.
They stated this in an interactive session with Sen. Bassey Otu, the LP’s flag bearer for the Cross River South Senatorial District at the party secretariat in Calabar.
Speaking through the State’s NLC Chairman, Mr John Ushie, the NLC in Cross River said that labour was determined to ensure that their votes counted in the fort coming elections.
Ushie said that the organised labour in the State has inaugurated a political commission to ensure that votes of members count at the forthcoming elections.
“The LP is the party of the NLC. Our concern as organised labour is that Nigeria should have a free and fair elections. We will prove that point and ensure that our votes count in the forthcoming elections.
“We will vote for you. It is also our responsibility that our votes count in the forthcoming election. In Labour we will vote totally for the candidate of our choice; those we feel that can represent bus and take us there.
“We as a Congress have set up a Political Commission to ensure that our votes count. It was set up last August to sensitise workers and Nigerian as on their rights.This committee cuts across all the 18 local government areas of Cross River. We will mobilise to vote for candidates of our choice,’’ he said.
Speaking earlier, Otu said he was at the NLC secretariat to consult with its hiarachy over his second term senate bid and the need to ensure that their votes count.
He said that in spite of losing out at the PDP primaries in the state he opted for an alternative platform to test his popularity at the 2015 polls, adding that he will respect the verdict of the electorate.
“I believe that by-gone are by-gone. We are looking forward to new things, challenges. I am in Labour Party (LP) today to “let poor man follow chop’’. We are coming here to propagate the ideal of moving Nigeria forward.
He said that his chances to secure his second term in the senate on LP platform was “very bright”’.
Otu said he was confident that the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) would conduct a free and fair elections.
“My chances are very bright in Labour. What I have done is to take the decision to the court of public opinion for people to decide who they want to represent them.
“I will abide by whatever decision the electorate takes in my case. I am contesting the Cross River South Senatorial District’s position in 2015 on the platform of the Labour Party.
“Given the assurances from INEC, we believe that the 2015 elections will be free and fair. We are also assured given recent elections that INEC have conducted in Nigeria,’’ he said.
He also urged Nigerians who are eligible to vote to cast their ballot to President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure his second term as President of Nigeria.
`”The challenge that we face in Nigeria today demands experience in governance. This president has done just one term and if we elect another today he will come to learn the ropes. Nigerians wants result urgently. President Goodluck Jonathan has started a Transformational Agenda which has gone half way even though.
“We have this internal security and insurgency challenges in the North East but if the president is given a second chance I believe he will put programmes in place so that we will be able to judge whether he has done well or not.
“But this is democracy, people will like to do what they want to do. For my supporters, nobody will stand by the polling booth to force anybody to vote. For me, the will of the majority will carry the day and I will respect it,’’ he said.
He also appealed to those in the corridors of power to accord the electorate the respect they deserve.
`”There is no need to kill our brothers because of election. There is no need to deny others those basic needs. Let us do what is right. Let us not act God. Let the women and all those who are eligible to vote do so during election.
“There is no doubt that in politics the very people you fight for turn around and betray you, but that should not deter us from doing the right thing for our people. We need all of you to change the situation we found ourselves.
“If we do a free and fair elections then there will be no need to take from those who are impoverished to those who are already rich. Power belongs to God. I came here for consultation and to seek your votes,’’ he said.
He said he would not subscribe to the opinion that Labour should be removed from the Exclusive Legislative list to Concurrent Legislative list.
`”I, as a member of the current senate, do not subscribe to the opinion canvassed in some quarters in Nigeria that Labour should be removed from the Exclusive Legislative list to Concurrent Legislative list.
He also promised to give NLC a befitting office in Cross River and donated N1 million to the state council of the NLC.
Otu urged supporters including the organised labour to pray for Nigeria for a successful elections in 2015.
“We are facing a precarious situation in Nigeria. The PDP wants to rule by force and the APC thinking they are going to take over government. They have already outlined their strategies. I think that all we can do is pray that whoever wins the election should win and let this country be in peace.
“I will abide by whatever decision the electorate takes in my case. I am contesting the Cross River South Senatorial District’s position in 2015 on the platform of the Labour Party.
“Given the assurances from INEC, we believe that the 2015 elections will be free and fair. We are also assured given recent elections that INEC have conducted in Nigeria,’’ he said.
He also urged Nigerians who are eligible to vote to cast their ballot to President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure his second term as President of Nigeria.
`”The challenge that we face in Nigeria today demands experience in governance. This president has done just one term and if we elect another today he will come to learn the ropes. Nigerians wants result urgently. President Goodluck Jonathan has started a Transformational Agenda which has gone half way even though.
“We have this internal security and insurgency challenges in the North East but if the president is given a second chance I believe he will put programmes in place so that we will be able to judge whether he has done well or not.
“But this is democracy, people will like to do what they want to do. For my supporters, nobody will stand by the polling booth to force anybody to vote. For me, the will of the majority will carry the day and I will respect it,’’ he said.
He also appealed to those in the corridors of power to accord the electorate the respect they deserve.
`”There is no need to kill our brothers because of election. There is no need to deny others those basic needs. Let us do what is right. Let us not act God. Let the women and all those who are eligible to vote do so during election.
“There is no doubt that in politics the very people you fight for turn around and betray you, but that should not deter us from doing the right thing for our people. We need all of you to change the situation we found ourselves.
“If we do a free and fair elections then there will be no need to take from those who are impoverished to those who are already rich. Power belongs to God. I came here for consultation and to seek your votes,’’ he said.
He said he would not subscribe to the opinion that Labour should be removed from the Exclusive Legislative list to Concurrent Legislative list.
`”I, as a member of the current senate, do not subscribe to the opinion canvassed in some quarters in Nigeria that Labour should be removed from the Exclusive Legislative list to Concurrent Legislative list.
He also promised to give NLC a befitting office in Cross River and donated N1 million to the state council of the NLC.
Otu urged supporters including the organised labour to pray for Nigeria for a successful elections in 2015.
“We are facing a precarious situation in Nigeria. The PDP wants to rule by force and the APC thinking they are going to take over government. They have already outlined their strategies. I think that all we can do is pray that whoever wins the election should win and let this country be in peace.
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