Oshiomhole has abandoned masses – TUC, ACN.

The Chairman of Trade Union Congress in Ekiti State, Mr. Kolawole Olaiya, has berated Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole for accepting membership of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme Board.

Olaiya said Oshiomhole’s acceptance of the appointment and issuance of a statement in support of subsidy removal was an indication that the former Nigeria Labour Congress President was no longer on the side of the masses.

He said, “We expect him (Oshiomhole) as a former labour leader not to support the removal of subsidy and to be on the side of workers.

“By issuing a statement that he supports the removal of subsidy means that he supports them. It means that he has abdicated his former status as a labour leader. He has joined the political leaders to rob workers of their welfare.

“We are fighting this subsidy removal for the future of this country and generations after us will commend us for resisting this obnoxious policy.”

He urged the government to revert to the old pump price of N65 per litre, saying the price hike had subjected Nigerians to untold hardship.

The state Chairman of the Action Congress in Nigeria, Chief Jide Awe, said Oshiomhole was confused.

He observed that the position of the governor was different from that of his people because the people of Edo State trooped out en masse to participate in the protest when it started on Monday.

He said, “This subsidy removal is like a declaration of war on Nigerians. The country is experiencing unprecedented levels of insecurity so the Federal Government needs to accede to the demands of the majority of the people.

“Mr. Adams Oshiomhole is confused. He is betwixt and between. If you see what happened in Edo State, you will know that Oshiomhole did not speak on behalf of his people.”

Awe urged the people of the state to continue to protest until the FG was forced to change the policy

Meanwhile, the protest against the subsidy removal continued to wax stronger as it entered the third day in Ekiti State on Wednesday.

The protesters, including clerics, labour leaders, students, artisans, unemployed, women and children took off at Basiri area of Ado-Ekiti and terminated at Ijigbo Roundabout where the labour leaders addressed the people.

Our correspondent, who moved round the town, observed that children took part in the protest.

Offices, shops and markets in the state were shut with the protesters ordering the few traders who displayed their wares to go home.