Not yet time to celebrate Buhari, NLC cautions

The Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress has congratulated Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on his victory at the presidential election but the labour union warns that the time for celebration is not now.

The Chairman of the Oyo NLC chapter, Bashir Olanrewaju, who spoke at an event organised by human rights group, Amilcar Cabral Ideological School, in Ibadan on Wednesday, said the President-elect was surrounded by corrupt personalities.

Olanrewaju said that Buhari’s personality as an upright person and fighter of corruption, was what endeared him to the voters but that the President-elect had around him people who acquired wealth through corrupt means.

According to Olanrewaju said such people could erase the gains expected from Buhari’s victory.

Also, human rights crusader, Femi Aborisade, who was also at the event, said he had studied the manifesto of Buhari’s All Progressives Congress but spotted no difference between the party and the defeated Peoples Democratic Party.

He added that in an attempt to actualise governance in his own way, Buhari might encounter problems with the party and some of the people who spearheaded his campaign and emergence.

Olanrewaju reminded Nigerians that some of the challenges that Buhari would face included a deeply-rooted corrupt system, dwindling national income and an economy hinged on dictation from the western powers.

He said, “We congratulate Buhari on his victory at the poll but we are not sure that there is much hope to celebrate by the masses. Buhari told Nigerians that he had no money to buy form but have we forgotten that those who bought his form and funded his campaign will be around him when he begins his rule? They will demand for a return.

“Despite the dwindling oil price, there is evidence of stealing of petroleum products. This is a system that Buhari will inherit. Did we ask him during his campaign if he will increase civil servants’ wages or reduce the work force? Did we put ourselves in a good bargaining position when he was canvassing for our votes? We did not ask those questions, we only wanted change.”