The Day Madumere Showed True Leadership At IBC

Governance is said not to be a tea party. It is a truism that many outside the corridors of power or those who are far from the seat of power would hardly appreciate the pressure, puzzle, absorbance of deadly punches, stomach even nonsense from the least among the cadre.

The true test of virtue, devotion, sacrifice and humility and in all leadership, a fortnight ago, came face to face with the number two citizen of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere. Again it was a labour matter. A usual this kind presented an opportunity to test everything about the Prince including his temper, wit, negotiating prowess and charisma.

Prince Madumere was said to have been handed down information over the protesting labour union of Imo Broadcasting Corporation. The test lies with the fact that the Corporation had already started paying staff salaries a day before the day of protest. This would have presented a dilemma in the mind of any human resource manager since neither notice nor any clue was given as to what the reason for going on protest was.

Seeking to bring to bring the situation under control, on arriving to the IBC complex, the labour union members had already taken to the street on a roadshow to Imo government house to press home their grouse. In his manner, he refused to move an inch until he had spoken with every Dick and Harry on the matter.In a matter of an hour and some minutes, normalcy was returned as the Radio station was immediately reopened for transmission and other services.

Speaking to the Director General, Director and Staff of the State owned Radio Station, Prince Madumere described the character of the protesting labour staff as an orchestrated plot to sabotage Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s led Rescue Mission government.

He queried why no attempt was made to reach him if there were areas of conflicts in whatever issue. He decried the motive behind such move without prior notice since he handles labour related issues. “They have my phone numbers. They know they can always reach me when necessary. There are procedures and rules of engagement between the employer and employees in a labour related issue. They have not exhausted those laid down procedures and they are already on the street”.

“In salary matters, Imo remains one of the leading States and most labour friendly government in Nigeria. We agree that there is economic down turn in the country but Rescue Mission has always tried to cater for her workers through its prudent management of scarce resources. His Excellency, Owelle anayo Rochas Okorocha has remained resolute in his promises to Imo workers. However, Imo Deputy Governor said the State government owed the staff one month salary arrears”.

On intervention call at IBC, Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Austin Chilakpu who pleaded with the Deputy Governor to tamper justice with mercy over the behavior of the IBC staffs. He described Prince Madumere as a personality who is as transparent as a prism. The NLC Chairman wondered why other State Exco members of the union were not consulted or even a top government official before jumping into protest.

He thanked Prince Madumere for personally coming to IBC complex to resolve the matter. He said his presence was the hallmark of leadership, saying it shows care and relationship with the workers.

Speaking to journalists, the Director General of Imo Broadcasting Corporation, Mrs. Esther Obong Egbuna described the protest as unwarranted. She however extolled Madumere’s leadership qualities with the touch of interpersonal relations with the workers and his proactive measures to always ensure solutions are proffered prior an envisaged fall out.

It will be recalled that Madumere’s leadership as the Rescue Mission Caesar in Labour matters and negotiations has maintained stability in the government-labour relations with his boss, Governor Okorocha doing all to meet up with the welfare of Imo workers.