I See President Bola Tinubu As A Leader That Commands Respect — High Chief Bakare Akuresanmi Amusa
High Chief Bakare Akuresanmi Amusa is a former Chairman Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Ondo State Chapter, Vice Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ondo State, and now, the Ojomu of Oda Town in Akure South Local Government area of Ondo State. He spoke with Ayodele Ologunola on some national issues. Excerpts.
As a former Labour leader, what can you say about the constant strikes that the Nigeria Labour Congress embarked upon recently?
The idea of going on strike, going on strike shows that the only language the government of today understands is a strike. But to me, I would still advise our labour leaders to calm down because Tinubu had just gotten to power in less than three months. I believe that something good would come out. But the conditions that we are in are not even palatable. Take me for example, I was in the market a few days ago to purchase little things, our minimum wage is #30,000.00, and a bag of rice is #50,000.00. How do you want somebody who earns #30,000.00 to meet up? With all these, it’s imperative that the government dialogue with the Labour leaders.
In the view of our people, they believe that labour leaders are sponsored by external forces. Do you agree with that?
That has been the usual thing. If anything is wrong from one side to the other, they like to shift the blame on each side. I don’t foresee labour leaders being carried away from their responsibilities. About labour leaders being used by any political party or another, I may not understand that, but what I believe is that what is good for Nigeria’s government is to make our country suitable for us to live in. Like I said, if a bag of rice is #50,000 and someone is earning #30,000, can he or she eat the rice without soup? Would he or she not transport his or herself to the market? So I don’t see any reason to say that someone is being used. I don’t subscribe to it. During our own time, nobody made use of us, we only do the right thing when due. The understanding is that government will not do the right thing unless we go on strike. What they did recently was a warning strike to gear the government up. We can see the effect of the two-day warning strike. I still pray that such a strike will not come up again. I’m begging our government to see to the affairs of the Labour leaders.
By going on strike always sir, do you think it can solve our problems?
Going on strike can’t solve our problems. But what could be done about the situation when our government doesn’t understand any language other than a strike? This is the only language that our government understands. If our people don’t go on strike, what do you think labour can use to achieve their aims? Nobody is interested in the strike. The moment we go on strike, we lose many things. We don’t encourage strikes because the effects are more than the gain. This is our country and we must all pray for it, as other people pray for their country. We the labour leaders don’t like strikes, but that is our last hope.
The election petition tribunal gave their judgment in favor of President Tinubu, but other candidates said they would still go to the Supreme Court. What do you have to say about it?
The judgment had been pronounced and I believe that everyone should abide by it. It’s a four-year tenure. They should start to prepare themselves for the next election. For this one, the judgment given by the tribunal is the best. See how the judges read the judgment for almost twelve hours? I don’t see any reason any of the candidates would say they want to appeal the judgment. However, it has been the habitual habit of politicians not to be satisfied with election judgment until it gets to the Supreme Court. With this judgment, I don’t expect them to go to the Supreme Court. They should join hands together with the present government to move Nigeria forward.
How can you assess the three months of President Tinubu-led government?
To my understanding, I still see President Bola Tinubu as a leader who commands respect. He is a leader who believes things will soon be okay for the country. He is a leader that knows how to focus, he know where he focuses, and how to follow it. He is a leader who does not believe in tribalism because he has been engaging with all the tribes in Nigeria.
How do you see the caliber of people he selected to work with him?
He has appointed the right people. We all know the antecedents of those people he picked to work with him. He understands them and they too understand the president. The people are working with him to see that Nigeria regains its lost glory.
You were once the state Chairman of the Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Ondo State for some years and you recorded great achievements. How do you see the current management of the union in the state?
Like you said, I have about six chairmen before me, in which they all tried their best. I was elected in the year 2005 to pilot the affairs of the union. I thank God that when I came on board, I saw my union as a union which supposed to have a place where they would be having meetings, a guest house and relaxation center, a hall, and a secretariat. I sat down with my executives and rubbed minds together, by the grace of God, we were able to achieve our goals for the union. Now, we can boast of a hall, secretariat, guest house, relaxation center, etc. befitting ground in Akure. During our own time, we have focus. Focus in the sense that, most of our people called technicians do not go beyond level 7, but during our tenure, we met with the government where we were close to them. Those technicians that retired at level 7 can now be retired at level 14. The so-called health assistant who also retire at level 4, can now retire at level 8. This is what we did during our own time.
With our new people on the ground now, we still see them as a learner because if someone is on the ground in an acting capacity, he or she may not have much to do. They were acting on the person who was retired. Mr. Alake Fakilede happened to be the chairman. However, due to age and years of service with the government, he was unable to complete his tenure. He left the place for the current occupier. The man there is in an acting capacity and he is a good person. This is the trying period and with the grace of God and God willing, he will continue, But if the masses believe he is not doing anything, they have their ballot paper in their hands.
How do you see the new LDCAs created out of Akure South Local Government in which Oda Town was made the headquarters?
The news does not come to us as a surprise. We know that our current governor loves Oda Town with all his heart. You can see the way he has developed Oda Town. See the dual road from Shop Rite to Ilekun and the single lane from Ilekun to Board. He had promised us LCDAs. The Oda community appreciates the governor for what he did for them. We thank the state executives. we’re going to make good use of it. A lot of funds is going to be generated especially from our cocoa. We have a cocoa board at Oda Town.
