The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Thursday formally received its first President General, Comrade Uzojie Ukaummuna, back into the union, in a spirit of unity and reconciliation.
The event held at the union’s headquarters in Lagos, marked a significant chapter in the organization’s history, bringing together past and present leaders to celebrate their shared history and chart a new course for the future.
Welcoming the pioneer president, the incumbent President General of the union, Com. Adewale Adeyanju emphasized the need for unity within the union stating, “We are not fighting ourselves and we are not fighting our leader.” He acknowledged the struggles of the past, including the sacrifices made by many during Ukaummuna’s presidency, and urged the audience to learn from those experiences.
He lauded the ongoing transformations under his leadership, including improved welfare and a revitalized image of the union.
“The name tag over the years is what we are telling the whole world today that we have changed, that those names of those days are no longer our names. We are not ‘agberos’. We are not violent workers that they used to call us.
“We are now transformed into civilized workers, the struggle is like a daydream in the mind of those who partook in this struggle. It is like a dream for those that lost their lives as a result of the struggle that involved the union and the government”, he said.
He added that there is a need for the union to have a globally recognized Maritime Workers’ Club in Nigeria. “I would agree that there is a need for us to build Maritime Workers’ Club Nigeria, a standard that can be recognized all over the world”.
Addressing the challenges faced by workers and the government’s role, Adeyanju acknowledged the dreams and struggles of former leaders like Com. Uzojie Ukaummuna. He highlighted the need to resist division and unite for the betterment of workers’ welfare.
“I appreciate you as a leader, as a father and as a mentor. We believe in the unity of the workers. We should learn from what you have gone through.
“Part of my purpose is what has happened today, that I will bring all our leaders together, I was with Comrade Irabor on Sunday and he was very happy.
‘Let’s learn from what happened to us 23 years ago. The government will always be the government, they will use you against your will, and they will use you against the executives of the same union. We must learn from that part of it too.
“They are the struggles that made all of us recognize what struggle is. And, we must work to recognize all of them. I thank you. I still believe in you as a leader, as a father. You have contributed immensely to the success that whatever everybody is doing today, it started with a lot of past failures” he said.
In his response, Com. Uzojie Ukaummuna, expressed his satisfaction with the positive changes and innovations occurring within the union. He urged support for the current leadership and emphasized the importance of forgiveness and unity among members. “Wait for your own turn, and you must support him (Adeyanju) and not work against him.”
He emphasized the importance of unity and forgiveness, declaring that: “This man is bringing innovations to this place, beautiful things are happening here at the union. I am very happy about the transformation taking place here, wait for your own turn, and you must support him and not work against him.
“We are not violent people, we do not come to look at salt water, so when you get a leader who refuses to allow the workers to be marginalized you will be tagged as a bad leader.
All these innovations you are doing, God will bless you PG. I have forgiven everybody, and I want you all to forgive me
“On behalf of myself and family we thank you people for welcoming us and nobody will divide us again. I want you to forgive as many people that have hurt you because forgiveness is divine” he stated.
Speaking also at the event, a former Deputy President General of the union; Com. Rasaki Adekunle Bakare expressed gratitude to Com. Adewale Adeyanju for his leadership style that marked a significant step towards healing old wounds, emphasizing the futility of violence in achieving progress.
“I thank my PG, because with violence we cannot achieve anything and today I thank my PG, because I don’t believe that it is Adeyanju God will use. There is no perfect man, more grease to your elbow PG” he said.
