By Roland Ekama
The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has reaffirmed strong commitment to conduct a free and fair Dockworkers branch elections, saying that the Constitution must be abide to at all cost.
President General of MWUN, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi disclosed this on Monday in Lagos while addressing aggrieved dockworkers ahead of the forthcoming branch election .
Bunu further warned that campaign should not be taken to quay aprons across the seaports nationwide.
Bunu maintained that the MWUN cannot be cajoled, pressurised, threatened or gagged by any groups, individuals or organisations ahead of the branch elections, adding that the constitution will provide guidelines for the candidates seeking key positions .
According to him, the law is clear for every members ,delegates and contestants in the forthcoming elections, reassuring that the elections will be free and fair.
He noted that the constitution cannot be changed or toyed with a moment of electioneering stating that the matters affecting the dockworkers branch will resolved amicably.
Bunu assured the aggrieved dockers that ” I am here you serve all the four branches of the Union and am assuring you all that everybody will exercise his fundamental human right.
“We heard about the protest and a happy that everybody conducted themselves within the ambit of the law. However, when you live in a glass house you don’t throw stones.”
The President General also expressed optimism that the branch elections will not witnessed any form of violence , setbacks, tribalism, favouritism or godfatherism
adding that ignorance is no excuse before the law , hence the constitution will provide the rules and regulations for the polls.
He maintained that the union has a tradition systematically for election processes and nobody will be disenfranchised during the polls.
Bunu reiterated that dockworkers play critical role in port operations and the system belongs to every members of the MWUN.
He kicked against hate speech among the contestants ahead the elections, noting that MWUN is a union that operates a system of one family .
Earlier in the day, dockworkers on Monday 28th of April staged a peaceful protest at the Tin Can Island Port ,Lagos Port Complex gate and NIMASA office over the alleged interference of terminal operators in the forthcoming branch elections.
They argued that the Dockworkers Branch elections have been zoned to a particular port for so long, describing it as injustice.
The placards displayed by the aggrieved dockworkers reads “We want to choose our leaders by ourselves “; “Tony Stay Away from our Union Election” “We want Justice and Equity ” ” Tobef is not the only stevedoring contractors to produce Dockworkers Branch President , Say no to marketers , terminal operators should stay clear from our elections, etc.
While speaking earlier on behalf of the aggrieved dockworkers, Comrade Sunday Osho stated that zones that have produced President of the branch should not contest the election.
Addressing the President General of MWUN at the national secretariat, Osho maintained that rule 40 of the MWUN constitution should apply to the branch elections, pointing out that Tin Can Island Port has not produced Branch President since inception of the MWUN.
According to him, other contestants for the post of President should vie for other positions but no presidential post, because according to him, it is the turn of Tin Can Island Port to produce the next branch President .
“The zones that have produced Branch President should be in contest in the forthcoming elections “, Osho maintained
