Date Published: 01/14/10

Embrace Scientific Unionism ~ President General MWUN

Comrade Tony Nted (President General MWUN)

Members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have been told to embrace scientific unionism rather than continue in the era of banging tables in the name of unionism.

The President General of the union, Comrade Emmanuel Tony Nted made this assertion during an interactive session with members of the body as part of activities to usher in the new year at his residence in Port Harcourt..

“Unionism should not be a do or die affair, with dialogue, understanding and the grace of God we should be able to pull ourselves together to achieve the desired goal for our union and the the country” he said.

Comrade Nted also made disclosures on how he has been able to successfully run the MWUN bringing about remarkable changes, “the prospect of managing a union of MWUN magnitude is quite challenging, however I thank God for the grace and wisdom with which I have been able to run the affairs of the Union.

When I came on board as President, after leading the Dockworkers branch which obviously was much more challenging, I decided to sought the face of the Lord in seeing me through the task,  firstly I initiated the Dockers restoration aimed at bringing the people closer to God  to make them understand that without God they would not be able to function and achieve anything; and that has worked some magic”.

The unionist who hails from Andoni, an ethnic group in Rivers state noted that he is proud to be a Rivers man and assured the Rivers people that major maritime activities will henceforth begin to see the light of the day in the state. “Already we have made a letter to the Governor expressing  our desire to hold an annual committee meeting in the state, we wrote to the governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi so that he will host us for the whole world to understand that a Rivers state son is the President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria”.

The President General of MWUN disclosed that states like Edo led by their vibrant governor Adams Oshiomolle have been lobbying for the meeting to be staged in their state, however he assured that the union is resolved to hold it in Rivers state for once to bring honour to the governor and the state, especially now that one of their own is in the helm of affairs.

The maritime boss also commended the administration of governor Amaechi for his people and development oriented leadership in the state. “Everyone in the state is a living testimony to the sweeping changes he has brought to the state in the mould of capacity and infrastructural development; Gov. Amaechi and Gov. Fashola are two young and vibrant governors that deserve a pat in the back for their efforts in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people” he stressed.

On the sad incident of his mothers kidnap, he assured that he will continue in his philanthropy despite the painful kidnap of his mother last year by men of the underworld. According him those that have poised themselves as detractors of the essence of our nationhood in their selfishness will not deter him from carrying out his philanthropic work which he described as another way of touching lives and giving back to society, “my mother was kidnapped last year, thats all I have to say, I leave vengeance to God, but for it will not deter me from rendering a helping hand to the society; since God has blessed the works of my hand I will continue to render help to the less privilege in the society” he said.

 In his final word he urged the federal government to be sincere over the issue of amnesty to win the trust of the Niger delta people. He also called on all and sundry to support the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who has shown more than enough political will to serve the people with his obvious strides in government.

Meanwhile the chairman of Maritime Workers union dockworkers branch, Bonny unit, Comrade Ephraim Boggy Pepple has described the President General of MWUN as God sent. According to him, the progress witnessed today is born out of the experience he has garnered over the years in the industry dating back to 1972. Mr. Pepple prayed God to continue to use the PresidAent to sustain the peace and progress in the union.

By Anderson Hart