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The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has blamed the opposition to the proposed education policy of the state government by a section of the labour movement on the long years of military rule in the country which almost eroded the nation’s value of democracy and the rule of law.
The party also condemned the alleged open confrontation being employed by the labour against the administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi in recent times.
It would be recalled that the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and that of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in the state are currently at loggerhead with the administration of Governor Ajimobi over his government new education initiative tagged Participatory Management of Public Secondary Schools. This culminated in the disruption of a stakeholders’ meeting organized by the government last Wednesday upon which seven of the unionists were arraigned by the police.
In a statement issued by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, the APC sued for peace between the labour movement and the state government over “a mere proposal conceived essentially to improve the quality of secondary school education in the state and which is still open for debate before it could become a policy.
“But for the long reign of autocracy, euphemistically called military rule, in the country, the idea of peaceful dialogue as well as constructive engagement of government and freedom of assembly clearly enshrined in democracy would not been lost and paved the way for confrontation, violence and incitement of the public from a supposed critical stakeholder in the affairs of the state like the labour.
“Without being immodest, the stakeholders meeting called by the state government on June 1, 2016 to brainstorm on the proposed education initiative was in order as it was allow all concerned to air their respective views as expected in a democratic environment. We are of the opinion that the labour movement, which was also duly invited as partakers, should have stormed the venue with their position on the matter in black and white rather than organize a violent protest as attested to by some independent parties at the occasion.
“However, we appeal to the state government not to be dismayed by the antics of the opposition elements who may have penetrated the labour unions with a view to destabilizing the Pacesetter State for selfish motives. And since we have no doubt about the sincerity and determination of Sen. Ajimobi to move the state forward, we call on the governor continue with his democratic style of public engagement on any issue that has direct or indirect implication on the generality of the public even as we encourage the labour movement to always employ the option of dialogue to resolve any matter with the government”.
