Adeyanju brokers peace among warring past leaders, says it is end of crisis in MWUN

Segun Oladipupo

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In its frantic efforts to engender peace and reunite past warring members, the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Thursday played host to the pioneer President General of the union, Comrade Uzoeje Ukaummuna at the union’s secretariat in Lagos.

The President General of the union, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju said that the move was necessary to put an end to the crisis in the union.

Speaking at the reunion, Comrade Adeyanju who doubles as the Deputy President of Nigerian Labour Congress ( NLC), said that the process of rehabilitating past leaders and elders of the union had commenced.

He maintained that there is need to build the union to a standard that will put the union in global reckoning saying the old bad name tags does not more suffice and that the union is transformed.

“What we are doing today is to tell the world that it is the end of crisis in MWUN

“It is now a news that people will be asking why we are aligning with our leaders. We need to tell them that we are not fighting our leaders neither are they fighting us.

“This struggle started 23 years ago, it was like a dram to those that lost Thier lives in the crisis between the union and the government..

“There is need for us to work together, we should not be used against ourselves.

“He had a dram as former PG but the government thwarted his dream because of trying to fight for welfare of the workers.

“The struggle of 23 years ago has come to an end today. This is to to the whole world that think we cannot unite.

“If you fight, you lose your integrity. Today, this union has brought all of them together.”

The PG also preached forgiveness among the members even as he told them that position does not last forever

He added that workers should not avail themselves for government to use against the leaders or union.

Recalling the event of 23 years ago, he said the visiting pioneer Ukaummuna was trying to fight for the welfare of workers 23 years ago but that the government used some members of the union against his good plans which led to the crisis that lasted for 23 years.

Responding, Comrade Uzoeje Ukaummuna expressed joy over the development even as he sang songs of praise to God as well as prayed for the PG.

He thereafter asked for forgiveness from the teeming workers saying he had also forgiven them for whatever transpired in the past.

He lauded the leadership of the union for the innovations carried out in the union

“Look at the innovations this young man and his team is bringing here. Then we had no beautiful chairs because we had no money but today, look at beautiful seats. If you want to use people at the top to work against him, it won’t work. Wait for your own turn. Allow him to do what God has given him to do.

“I thank you for all the innovations you are carrying out and God will reward you for your efforts.”

Going memory lane, he explained that the struggle to protect the interest of the workers made the people term him as a violent leader.

“A leader must struggle because anytime you are protecting your children and wife, people will not come close vut if you are docile, they will bet your wife and children.

“It is because we are fighting for our people that make them call us violent people. If you say you are a gentleman, it doesn’t work, you will be pushed aside.

“The struggle that brought us this far was not easy. We know the suffering we endured. I have forgiven you all, you all should forgive me too.

“On behalf of myself and family and those who stand with me in On e, PH for the past 23 years, I thanks you and nobody will divide us again in Jesus Name.”

Also speaking a Deputy President General (DPG) during Ukaummuna’s reign as of who fell out with him, Comrade Rasaki Adekunle Bakare appreciated the efforts of the PG to broker peace between them

He quipped that it was a historic day because MWUN has become a peaceful organisation

“A day like this is what we are praying because if there’s no event, no history. Today is an history day.

“Fifty years ago, if you wanted to work in the dock, they will tell you not to go saying they are thugs but today, things have changed.

“Twice in a year, let us gather like so that we can know where we are lagging,” he advocated.

Highlights of the event is when the leaders hugged each other and we’re subsequently decorated in the union regalia.