I won’t protest, but I don’t stand with Buhari – Ex- presidential candidate, Remi Sonaiya

Presidential candidate of the KOWA Party at the 2015 general elections, Professor Oluremi Sonaiya, says she will not participate in the ongoing protest against subsidy removal even though she still does not support President Muhammadu Buhari. Prof Sonaiya who was the only female presidential candidate at the last elections, called on labour unions to diversify their strategies as she explained her decision not to protest the recent decision of the government to liberalize the downstream petroleum sector.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday on her Twitter handle, ‎@oluremisonaiya, the politician said things could be better handled in the country.

She tweeted: “In 2012, I went from Ife to Lagos to join in the Occupy Nigeria protests at the Freedom Park in Lagos. This time, I’m not protesting.
“And it’s not because I “stand with Buhari”. Yes, there are serious challenges, but things could be better handled.
“My concern now is more about unions. Should they merely seek to defend members’ welfare, not care about the nation’s total wellbeing?
“It’s time for unions to “diversify” strategies; these constant strikes haven’t helped much anyway.

“Also, they should care about members’ productivity & the quality of the products? If Naija products can’t compete, what’s the point?
“Unions should also intervene before decisions are made – lobbying the legislators, protesting policies that may adversely affect us all.
“When ex CBN Gov Sanusi revealed that 25% of basic budget was consumed by NASS, what did Labour do then? We should seek to prevent such.
“Even now, much is still going on that workers should rise against. I’d be glad to picket NASS till they cut their pay, make it all public.
“I’m saying, let’s all focus on how to develop the country, not just be concerned about the slice of the national cake that we’re getting.
“Let NASS not say they sympathise with us & call on govt to implement palliatives. Let’s ask them to reduce their own portion first.
“That is, let’s absolutely insist on accountability from our leaders and at the same time develop our nation through quality productivity.”