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By Bimbola Oyesola
Many prophets do not do what they preach. But in S.O.Z. Ejiofor, I found a ‘Prophet’ who does what he preaches. A Social Democrat of the socialist bend, S.O.Z. all through the years has been emphatic about the imperative of adherence to union values and ethics as the basis for building a cadre that is primed to work for the attainment of union goals of improving the conditions of working people and promoting a just and humane society. He did not just preach it, he lived it notwithstanding its privileged positioning within the trade union movement and in the broader polity.
I met S.O.Z. as a young trade union organiser at the peak of military regime and the muzzling of trade union and human rights in the 90s. I had been asked by the General Secretary of the Textile union, the highly cerebral and courageous Adams Oshiomhole to represent him at one of those strategic meetings preparatory to the 1999 conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). It was a rare privilege to sit side by side with leaders of the movement like S.O.Z., Comrade Jeje of NUPTE, Sola Iji of SESCAN and a few others I cannot readily remember now. What would I say in the midst of these veterans of the movement. But S.O.Z.’s simplicity, humility, depth of knowledge drew me in quickly as he encouraged me to feel relax.
Subsequently, I had rare opportunities to meet him in several strategy sessions in Kaduna, Lagos, Benin in several of the textile union strategic education activities. On my redeployment from Kaduna to Lagos, I had contested the NLC State Council election as Secretary in 1999, but lost marginally to Comrade Abel Akande of NUCFRLANMPE and my participation and the electioneering processes drew me to Aje street, the Headquarters of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil service technical and stenographic and Recreation Services Employees (AUPCTRE) where I interacted freely with Comrade S.O.Z. and his team including late Comrade Ajayi and Comrade Godfrey Ibeawuchi, at a later stage I met Comrade Agbonkonkon. There is no doubt that, I benefitted from occasional Aje “Seminar” series as union issues are debated between these noble Veterans.
My visit to Olajuwon street office of the NLC in Yaba, Lagos was not complete even when I became elected Secretary in 2003 without a detour to Aje Street.
NEC meetings
I was elected Secretary of the Lagos State Council of the NLC in 2003, I became a member of the National Executive Council of the NLC and my transition into NEC membership was made easy indirectly by Ejiofor ‘Boys’ who held sway as Chairpersons in Kwara, Ogun, Imo and Secretary in Osun and with whom I forged a great bond of friendship and solidarity. It was easy to relate with these comrades given their level of trade union consciousness and understanding of the challenges of the time and knowing that we have a shared mentor and father figure. NEC meetings were fertile ground for contestation of ideas and networking. I recall that S.O.Z.’s views were always sought even when he chose not to speak on a subject matter. Never a leader to look for front seats but his profound views and ideas dictated directions of events.
State council
How can I forget SOZ the man who influences subtly but with powerful impact, twice I attempted resigning as State Secretary and on the two occasions he counselled that I soldiered on stressing that It could be worse without the little contribution I was making. Again, at a point I toyed with the idea of leaving the movement. In all occasions, I thanked God for consulting with a true leader, mentor and father figure.
He did not only provide free counsel, he was a pillar of support throughout my tenure in the Lagos state council. He was there as an intellectual pillar during the many engagements around fuel price deregulation, minimum wage struggles among others even though he was an important National Leader who was always needed in Abuja.
The story of a successful ending to a turbulent tenure as state secretary is certainly not without the signature conciliatory role of SOZ. The council had been embroiled in a prolonged electioneering dispute arising from the conduct of state congresses held in April 2011. But for months the sectoral division between public and private sector unions lingered and the council was without an elected leadership with each side sticking to its position. Many thanks to Comrade SOZ and Comrade Stephen Oshidipe for their intervention and wise counsel after which our Comrades agreed to let the matter rest. Sir we are eternally grateful for your love and commitment to the Union.
SOZ and workers education
In 2001, I was selected to be part of an education trip to Berlin, Germany and the ILO training Centre, Turin Italy, as part of the efforts to reposition the Education work of the NLC. S.O.Z. was the leader of a team that included Comrade Ivor Takor of NASU, myself and the Women Committee Chairperson of NUPTE then. With S.O.Z. you are permitted to express your ignorance and you gain knowledge without being bullied or harassed. I saw him at a close range, timely, studious, methodical and profound in delivery of his views in our engagements at the DGB, the German trade union federation, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Berlin, IG Metal and the ILO training center in Turin, Italy.
I recall also that later in 2001 in Jos at the Education Conference of Congress he participated as a Resource Person together with late Bamidele Aturu and the resourceful British trade union educator Steve Faulkner. S.O.Z. espoused very succinctly that trade union education is not value free. Sustainable Workers Education must be anchored on the critical framework of socialist ideology. He argued then that even though trade unionists may not necessarily be Marxists but they cannot divorce themselves from Marxist views and ideas of society. He opined that it was wrong for trade union activists to take on the behaviours and values of their oppressors. He insisted, he was not preaching poverty but comrades must learn to tame their tastes to reflect the material condition of the working class.
Great Mentor
In 2005 or thereabout I was invited by the British council to make a presentation on Corporate Social Responsibility. I put a call through to him to discuss my presentation and we agreed to a meeting at Aje street. That interaction emboldened me and further helped to shape my presentation. SOZ had shared the perspective that the idea of CSR by capital was an admittance that the market was not capable of allocating resources in critical areas of need for the people and that CSR was Capital’s attempt at some restitution rather than voluntary support for the community. I remembered I shared the platform with the immediate past vice chancellor of Lagos State University, Professor Lanre Fagbohun SAN an accomplished Lawyer and Academic and my contribution was well received.
He was feared by many for its depth of knowledge, patience and uncommon fidelity to working class principles, the very reason some of us adore him. He was generous with his time and ideas and extremely supportive and tolerant of young and promising Activists.
A Community leader
I recalled when myself and my colleagues in the State Council then travelled to his village in Delta State to commiserate with him and the family over the demise of his late wife, it was obvious that SOZ is the same man in the community and the union. He interacted freely with everyone without the usual shoulder of a VIP.
Union Administrator Per Excellence
In my vantage position as DGS Administration at the NLC, his footprints are clearly visible in the attempts of Congress to standardize employment practice and staff conditions of service. He is not just referred to as ‘Octopus or Head of service’, they are sobriquets he earned for his enormous knowledge, diverse experience not just in the union but also in many years of interaction with the state, impeccable character, charisma and persuasive skills and fidelity to union principles.
In one of our interactions, he narrated a story where he was openly slapped in an open meeting. S.O.Z. never retaliated, and he was unruffled as he continued with his presentation without tension. What an uncommon comrade with great values and virtues, extremely calm and tolerant.
You may disagree with him, but what is not in doubt is S.O.Z.s ideological fidelity, moral influence and impeccable character. Notwithstanding his big status in the movement, he never contested any elective office. What a rare comrade!
Labour Party and SOZ’s Ideas of Politics
I remember in those early days of the Labour Party, S.O.Z’s idea was that the party needed time, the commitment of Comrades and some measure of ideological consistency for it to stand and compete for power in no distant future. For this, he was labelled conservative, but to press home his ideas, he organised a small cluster of middle class professionals, around the Surulere area who were meeting on regular basis. He encouraged, some of us to do the same, using the platform of the textile union, we brought together some textile workers together with other members of the party. The initiative did not last long because the mainstream idea was that the party is a vehicle for contesting for power right away.
On this occasion of his Birthday. I salute S.O.Z. for its clarity of thought, the profundity of ideas, humility and impeccable character.
Happy Birthday sir. I wish you many more years in sound health and God’s mercy. His birthday comes up on the 26th September.
Comrade Ismail Bello is the Deputy General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
