Comrade Ziko Okwudi, victory smile. |
Comrade
Eziko Okwudi had an easy walk over of his opponents when he received massive
votes yesterday, Tuesday, November 26, 2019 to emerge with a renewed mandate as
president of the Nigria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) for another
four years.
He
was elected along with other officials of the Union in the State during the Seventh Quadrennial
State Delegates Conference of the Union held at the Labour House, Asaba, Delta
State.
The
conference which was declared open by the Chairman, Delta State Local Government
Service Commission, Hon. Josephe Otirhue was attended by delegates from the 25
local Government Councils in the State and observed by members of the State
Local Government Service Commission, representatives of the National Leadership
of NULGE and the leadership of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Delta State as
well as the representatives of the security agencies.
Declaring
Comrade Ziko Okwudi as the winner of the election, the returning officer for
the poll, Comrade Lambert Onuigbo who is the National Auditor of NULGE
announced that the State President NULGE, Delta State polled a total of 205
votes to defeat his closest rival, Comrade Ijolo Ohioliwo who scored a total of
30 votes while Comrade Emaduku Austin got nil vote.
Ziko Okwudi |
Others
who were returned elected into the State Executive Council of the Union in
Delta State included Comrade Ogberetilino Obatarhe who was returned as the
Deputy State President, Kingsley Uwaosayemi; State treasure, Comrade Areh
Juliet; State Women Chairperson, Comrade Onowotu Alfred; State Auditor and
Comrade Perekeme Seliyibo as well as Comrade Onahor Lawrence were returned as
State Trustees.
Comrade
Stanley Akogba, Comrade Erhue Charles and Comrade Azikiwe Corliss were also
returned elected as State Publicity Secretary, State Welfare Officer and Young
Worker Representatives respectively.
Declaring
the quadrennial delegate conference open, the Chairman, Delta State Local
Government Service Commission, Hon Josephe Otihue commended the contestants for
conducting themselves in the right manner during their campaigns, saying that
the campaigns were peaceful and eventful.
“I
am happy to note that the contestants heeded the advice of the Commission to
ensure that the campaigns were devoid of violence and rancor. You must have had
your differences in the run up to this election but today is the climax and as
one family we are gathered here to elect a new leadership for NULGE at the
State Level.
“Unionism
is togetherness and oneness with unity of purpose. As we all know, the essence
of any union is to advance the interest of that group and this can only be
achieved through articulate and purposeful leadership.
“The
election of a new EXCO is a serious business but not a matter of death because
after the election you remain as staff of the Unified Local Government Service
of Delta State,” Otirhue admonished.
He
advised the incoming EXCO to be humble, but not submissive while agitating for
the welfare of members, saying that being confrontational would always lead to
strife and disharmony in the system, adding that the incoming leadership of the
Union in the State needs more of consultation with the management of the
Commission with a view to ensuring industrial harmony in the Local Government
System in the State.
Speaking
after his election, Comrade Okwudi who will formally be inaugurated at the
expiration of this tenure in January 2020, expressed his appreciation to the
body of workers through the delegates for their overwhelming endorsement,
pledging that the EXCO under his leadership will continue to put the interest
of the workers of the Unified Local Government Workers in the State as top
priority.
In
an interview with journalists, Okwudi described the election as a peaceful and
impressive one while dedicating their victory to God and the Governor of the
State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, noting that God in his infinite mercy used
the instrumentality of the person of the State Governor to stabilize and bring
about sanity in the welfare of the workers of the Councils when he took over as
the State President of NUGEL at a critical period in the life of the Union.
“You
will agree with me that before now, local Government workers in the this state
were nothing to write home about coupled with challenges of unpaid salaries and
so many other issues but to the glory of God, His Excellency the Governor came
into the picture and gave me a safe landing as the leader of the body of
Council workers in the State.
“If
the Governor has not given me that safe landing, I don’t think the entire
workers of the unified Local Government Councils in Delta would have given me
this massive support and votes,” Comrade Okwudi noted, stressing that without
the support and cooperation of the Governor to his leadership by way of
listening to all his appeals on behalf of the workers, “I think this people
would have turned their back against me, hence the need for me to sincerely
appreciate him for the leverage given to us to excel as leaders of the body of
workers in the 25 local Government councils in this State.”
The
highly charismatic union leader, therefore called on the workers to continue to
keep faith with the newly elected leadership of the Union in the State,
assuring that they will continue to use the mandate given to them to work and
project their interest.
Comrade
Okwudi said: “The new leadership has emerged, continuity, that is what we are
saying and with all the support from the entire work force of the Local
Government Councils in Delta State, we are not for any reason going to
disappoint them and having the Governor on our side, all what we ask for in the
interest of the workers will come to accomplishment.”
While
extending hands of fellowship to persons that contested against him, Comrade
Okwudi further described the election as a no victor, no vanquished one, even
as he said that the election being all about popularity, the entire workers
having decided who their leaders should be, every other person including those
who opposed them during the election should come together to move the union as
one indivisible entity.
The
delegate election which was peaceful was also witnessed the representative of
the National President of NULGE who is also the National Auditor, Comrade
Onuigbo Lambert, State President Of NULGE Cross River State; Comrade Godwin
AYenbi who is also the Chairman Conference of State Presidents of NUGEL,
(COSPON), the State President of NULGE Bayelsa State; Comrade Akpos Ekiegha and
State President of NULGE Akwa Ibom State; Comrade Barr. Martins Effiong amongst
others
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