Labour
Remembering 1949 Enugu Coal Mine Massacre in Owerri
By Uche Nwosu.Independent 7/5/08
May 8, 2008 - 10:37:18 AM

It was indeed, a disturbing and sorrowful tale when the Imo State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) reeled out the names of these fallen compatriots who in the effort to get better wages then were sent to their untimely grave.

According to the NLC report, "Sunday, a hewer hailed from Obazu Mberi; Levinus, a machine operator was from Ohi (Owerri), Moses, another machine operator came from Umuohoho and Simeon, another machine man, hailed from Ubaha Mbutu.

"Others are Nnaji, who was from Ndibara Amaimo; Nwahu, an engine driver, hailed from Amuzi Bende, while Thomas, another machine operator, came from Mbaha, Okigwe."

According Wogu Ananaba in his "Trade Union Movement of Nigeria" journal published by Ethiope Publishing Corporation, quoted by the NLC report, "there was a struggle between the Police and miners before the shooting. According to Fitzgerald Commission Report, the reason why the miners objected to the explosives was because they feared that once the explosives were removed, nothing stands on the way of management closing the mine and thus affecting a lockout... no policeman was injured, not one missile was thrown at them... yet this was one of the main contributory factors which decided Mr. Philip to open fire."

This revelation by the state chapter of NLC whose chairman, Isidore Opara, presented, clearly showed that workers' struggle for better condition of service did not start today.

As the Imo State workers bemoaned the killing of their past compatriots many years ago, NLC chairman quoted the Fitzgerald Commission Report on the incident which exonerated the workers from unfounded allegation made by the Police.

Opara quoted the report as published by the same company thus, "we feel bound to report that the report made by the police to the chief commissioner and later published that the police were attacked by a lot of armed miners was not substantiated by evidence."

This revelation of the brutal killing of these miners over six decades ago brought in sorrow in what ordinarily was a joyous day for workers all over the world.

Indeed, as Imo workers at the Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri venue of this year's Workers' (May) Day celebration marked their day, they were not only confronted with the physical killing of their colleagues decades ago but also were saddened by the psychological strangulation of those of them working today by government of the day through starvation occasioned by poor pay and despicable condition of service.

As the NLC, Imo State boss, read his lengthy address, most workers sighed repeatedly even as the state governor, Ikedi Ohakim, attired in workers' May Day apparel to reflect the mood of the day, sat at the VIP stand smiling endlessly apparently to show how friendly his government was with workers.

It was a day the organized labour in the state blew hot and cold at the same time. While trying to present its requests before the government, it unwittingly let the government know areas it has failed to meet public expectations. Such areas included: insecurity in the polity, its poor performance in the transport sector and others even as it commended the government for accepting to implement the 15 per cent consolidated salary package to civil and public servants in the state.

However, before Opara presented the numerous requests of workers to the governor, he compared the Iva Valley massacre to the Haymarket square demonstration in Chicago, United States on May 1, 1886, arguing that the two events were reminiscent of workers' demonstrations for better working conditions and better society.

According to him, even though the two incidents are similar because they point to one fact, the working condition in America has continued to improve for the better while that of Nigeria has continued to degenerate into precipice.

"One would have thought that since both countries are operating the same democracy and presidential system of government, we should be bound by the tenets and ideals of democracy - that is having: equal rights and opportunities in the economy, universal suffrage and free elections, equality, social justice in all areas of our public life as well as the rule of law and due process in the polity," he stated.

Besides, he regretted that in contrast, instead of being propelled by these principles, the reverse has been the case such that we're ruled by "exploitation, autocracy and unequal rights, social inequality and disorderly ways of running public enterprise as well as engaging in election rigging, thuggery and political assassination and corruption and bribery.

The NLC leader, however, disclosed the decision of organized labour in the state in league with trader union veterans to immortalize the seven fallen heroes of the Iva Valley massacre who hailed from the state.

According to him, a proposal to that effect would soon be forwarded to the governor for ratification. Before he completed his address, the labour leader defended the theme of 2008 May Day celebration which is: "Making Nigeria Work for the People" and remarked that it enforces that of 2007 which is: "Towards a New Agenda for Political and Socio-economic Transformation."

Done with his address which included the request for the state to pass the bill for the contributory pension scheme into law as well as providing vehicles to the union and its affiliates, Opara assured of a better working relationship with the government in years ahead. However, Ohakim who came to the stadium with a couple of white men, attracted some applause from the workers when he announced that he would never go back in his pledge of implementing the 15 per cent consolidated salary package for civil and public servants in the state. Boasting that he was a worker-friendly governor, Ohakim told the celebrating workers most of whom were already expressing resentment and pointing accusing fingers in their various stands over the alleged government insensitivity to their welfare, that since he came to power in May last year, he had not failed to give them their due. Besides, he promised to make them enjoy a sound working atmosphere in Imo above their counterparts elsewhere.

To the foreigners, Ohakim told the workers that he had dragged them to Imo State under his "New Face of Imo" project to build a modern refinery, which would employ thousands of people in the state.

According to him, the feasibility studies for the construction of the multi-million naira refinery would commence as soon as the government and the foreign investors/businessmen arrive on a platform on which the refinery could take off.

"This is the kind of thing we're doing to create employment and reduce hunger and poverty; we would not relent in doing that until we change the face of Imo and make it better for all of us," he said.

To the workers and those that have anything to do with government, Ohakim warned them to either comply with the project or bow out honourably through "voluntary retirement or resignation."

Done with this, the governor returned to his usual allegation of attributing every shortfall in the state to the so-called desperate and disgruntled politicians. He asked workers to join the battle towards protecting the rights of Imo people to live in peace and happiness.

His words: "You must not be used to recycle ugly rumours that damage you and state and ultimately damage your interest as workers. Your interest as workers can only be advanced under a condition of peace and uninterrupted progress.

"This state has endured long years of poverty. My government is therefore in a hurry to turn the fortunes of this state around."

Before now, Ohakim took the salute at the dais provided in the stadium as 29 industrial unions in the state including that of the disabled who march-past him, acknowledging loyalty to him even as some displayed obvious signs that signaled that the state under him required honest leadership .