The National Vice President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), South-South states of the country, Pastor Ominiayebagha Duma Kalango (fondly called O.D) has commended the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for what he described as his excellent performance in governance.
He stated this in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt over the weekend.
According to him, “although nobody is perfect, the governor has indeed performed creditably well above any criticism,” he said.
He maintained that the governor is a wonderful performer who is passionately committed on his job especially in the area of infrastructural development. Pastor Kalango who is also the Rivers State Chairman – elect of his union however advised the governor to shift attention to empowerment and job creation to absorb the teeming unemployed youths who could be frustrated and derailed with time.
“Priority attention should as a matter of urgency be given to stomach infrastructure as the people are hungry and the economy has nosedived, no thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he declared.
He used the opportunity to commend the governors of neighbouring states of Delta, Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom for giving priority attention to youth empowerment and employment creation which said should be emulated.
He further commended governor Wike for his developmental strides which he noted, has reached out to all the nooks and crannies of the state, an action which he said has surpassed that of his predecessors in office.
The Trade Unionist made it clear that Wike no doubt would be leaving a very big shoe for his successor when he leaves office in 2023.
While acknowledging that the economy is opening up all over the world after the pandemic, Kalango advised the State government to strategize along side others through agriculture as industrialization might not be a better option for Nigeria.
On the relationship between the state government, his union and the labour union in general, he said it was very cordial now.
“We are comfortable for the peace, we are enjoying after our last fight. Government is temporally in friendship with the labour. We hope there will be no need for any disagreement again in the interest of all,” he said.
The union leader however lamented the effect of the economic down-turn on the transport sector, arguing that as a result of poverty, commuters prefer trekking to their destinations while the motors run empty even under the increased fuel pump price, and therefore appealed to the government to ameliorate the people sufferings in any way possible.
On the disagreement of the NURTW union leaders as a fall out of its last election, Pst. Kalango said the development was necessary in any election for that matter, promising that it will soon be over for the union to forge ahead.
He equally used the chance to urge the citizenry to support and encourage the Wike led administration to do more in its determined effort to improve the welfare of the people as well as restoration of the state to its garden city status.
