Polycarp Sola -Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State chapter of the Labor Party (LP) has adopted a 15-man transition committee, which is saddled with the responsibility of repositioning the leadership of the party in the state.
This came following the directives of the National Transition Committee of the party, chaired by Comr. Omar Abdulwaheed Ibrahim, who has commenced the repositioning process at the national level.
Members of the state transition committee include Comrade Igiri Innocent, Chairman; Comrade Rapeal Akpaeze, Co-Chairman (South); Mr. Ekumaoko Ginikachi Nnachi, Chairman, Congress Planning Committee; and Pastor Ken N Oziomaeze, Secretary, Congress Planning Committee (Central).
Members of the South sub-committee are Hon. Christian Chukwu Otu (PTF), Secretary, Transition Committee; Apostle Chukwu John, Chairman, Mobilization and Recruitment; Comrade Mark Chimezie, Chairman, Support Groups; and Comrade Igweanu Sunday Michael, Chairman, Registration and Revalidation Subcommittee (Central).
Others include the chairman of the peace and reconciliation committee, Hon. Esheya Greg (North), Rtd. Capt. John N. Ezeh (US Navy), chairman of security, Mrs. Ijeoma Chukwu, chairperson of the gender equality subcommittee, and Chief Dominic Egwu, chairman of the contact and stakeholder engagement subcommittee (South).
Media and Publicity subcommittee: comrade Ose Vincent Ebenyi (North), Apostle Benjamin Egwu, chairman of diaspora engagement (South), as well as comrade Moses Nwali, chairman of special groups and diversity.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Igiri Innocent, Chairman of the Transition Committee, who commended the state leadership of the party led by Comr. Splendor Eze as well as the national leadership for the effort made thus far towards the party’s repositioning, pledged to join hands with other executives to ensure the party takes on the winning side.
He, however, tackled state governors over the issue of the minimum wage as proposed by the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), calling on them to stop the ridiculousness against workers and urging them to resign if they would not prioritize the welfare of workers across the country.
“Let me use this opportunity to air my voice on the issue of a new minimum wage as proposed by the NLC. Let me say this: the Nigerian Governors Forum should not ridicule the suffering masses.
“People are indeed suffering. As of today, the inflation rate has gone to 34%, the naira to dollar is 1600, the price of premium motor spirit is between 600 and 1500, and you expect the minimum wage to only adjust a bit up?
“That is ridiculous! Any governor who says that he can’t pay the agreed minimum wage between the tripartite committee and the Federal Government on minimum wage should, with immediate effect, resign and hand off the mantle.” He stated.
Lending his voice, the secretary of the transition committee, Hon. Christian Chukwu Otu, maintained that the Labor Party’s repositioning would see to the birth of a new Nigeria as well as Ebonyi State, urging members to remain steadfast on the vision of its founders, based on the quest for better leadership.