Messiah is a lasting personality to anyone in hope of a better place or situation. No wonder, the members of the Christian faith wholeheartedly believe there is a place better than here on Earth. ” My citizenship is in heaven…”
Understandably enough, Messiah does not just come, it comes in due time, usually when no one expects as burdening of too many may be a concern or better still, coming to reward only the consistent, loyal and truly loving.
This allusion relates to the Labour movement in Oyo State under the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC,Comrade Kayode Martins and Trade Union Council,TUC, Comrade Olatubosun Olabiyi with the insistence of its open meeting with His Excellency, Seyi Makinde over perceived confusion in relation to information that four out of its seven outstanding salary deductions has been paid, being one of its six cardinal points as microphoned by the special adviser on Labour Matters to the governor, Comrade Bayo Titilola-Sodo, a highly versatile personality on Monday while the worker- protesters converged at the secretariat.
From time, no one could believe the state workers could protest openly such that the state secretariat for a week beginning from Monday 31st July to Friday 4th August shut the main gate and stern watch-over other entrances to the secretariat, all to write to the world they are demanding governor’s attention. This is such a strange phenomenon to me!
As a matter of fact, the workers protested peacefully at the frontage of the secretariat morning till early evening daily: exactly the time of closure from work.
Investigations made indicate that the workers love the governor and that it is never an interest to them to go on strike, ” What do you want?,Journalists asked.
”We want to see our governor publicly to address us and no more interest in intermediary creation”, Oyo Workers echoed.
Unhmmm. Amazing thing is on Tuesday, when a highly reverred minister of God who doubles second term re-appointed executive assistant on Administration to the governor, Rev. Idowu Ogedengbe visited the workers, shortly the assistant adviser on Security Matters to the governor, Rtd. CP Sunday Odukoya visited them with no attention, Rev. Ogedengbe was sung-out of scene ,led out of sight by one of the Labour Leaders in charge of the senior citizens to his car to avoid altercations and disrespect.
I remember, Chairman, Association of Senior Civil Servants in Oyo State,Comrade Ismael Badmus maintained that the workers in their number would only listen to the state governor, Dr. Seyi Makinde whom they wholeheartedly elected for relief and that there is no atom of displeasure with the government.
Obviously, this insistence keeps coming from the workers, even on Friday before and after a well co-ordinated Juma’at Service at the frontage of the state secretariat. This is hilarious but too concerning.
Should the workers put up this attitude during second term campaign, it could have been concluded it is politically under toned. What do we call this? Five days, protesting under favourable and non-favourable weather. I remember, the workers sat under harsh sun and drenched by the rain. Have these workers read the story of ten virgins in the book of Matthew 25? These are acting wise, and never want to lose chance of being checked on them by the ‘bridegroom’ whom they cannot determine nor pre-empt his arrival.,they have had their lamps oiled, even with spare oil despite the fuel is costly in Nigeria at the moment.
Wow! Who are the workers awaiting? Governor Seyi Makinde whom the state workers have once awarded “Most Workers Friendly Governor”. Will the bizarre display of workers in front of the Pacesetter secretariat not stop? I trust Governor Makinde, an intelligent and world acceptable administrator will attend to the workers.
Motorists, policemen and journalists have no other duty than to stay close to the workers as to jointly receive the “Messiah” -Governor Seyi Makinde.
Meanwhile, the state government remains the first ever to meet with the state workers on June 5 at the executive Chambers, Governor’s Office and as well inaugurate a minimum wage review committee, even when constitution of second term cabinet was underway then.What a reliable and future -oriented governor! Since, the huge demand of the state workers is awaiting “A Messiah”, to put an end to continued grounding of government activities, as the labour movement enforces compliance for its members which I am pretty sure, if Governor Seyi Makinde addresses verbally alone can return them all to work. The love of loyalty makes the workers long for the messiah.
Oyo ko ni baje!
Comrade Olawale Ogunbusola who is a broadcast journalist, author, public affairs analyst writes in Ibadan
