At exactly 8 a.m yesterday, frontline nationalist and symbol of labour struggle in Nigeria, Pa Michael Imoudu yielded to death, the great leveller. He was 102. Imoudu, a centenarian died in his home-town, Ora in Edo State.
A statement by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said "the congress family is saddened by his death and take pride in the good life he lived."
The statement issued by NLC President Adams Oshiomohole further declared: "His prominent and pioneering contributions to the development of Nigeria's labour movement is highly appreciated by the NLC."
Imoudu used his railway union platform to build the Nigeria Trade Union Movement. He was president of the All Nigeria Trade Federation (ANTUF) from 1947 to 1958, and was the first president of the then NLC in 1950.
It noted that as a railway worker, Imoudu developed deep interest in trade unionism and politics. His advent in the union brought unprecedented militancy and radically activist dimension to the movement.
"The impact of the Nigeria Labour movement on the nationalists' efforts and the birth of modern Nigeria owed a lot to the meticulous networking and grass roots work pioneered by Imoudu," the statement said.
It stated that it was to Imoudu's credit that the labour movement recorded the longest strike of 44 days in Nigerian history in 1945.
According to NLC, the strike contributed significantly to the ultimate attainment of the nation's independence.
The Pan-Africanist had his education in government school, Ora and the Roman Catholic Schools in Onitsha and Agbor.
He started his formal working career as linesman in the department of post and telecommunications before moving to the Nigeria Railway Corporation.
He first came into limelight when he led more than 3,000 workers of the railways to storm the colonial government house in 1941 to fight for Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)
Imoudu held the national honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic and a Doctorate Degree in Law (Honorary Causa) from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, among others.
Reacting to the news of Pa Imoudu's death, chairman of the Lagos State Council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mrs. Theophlus Orisakwe said the labour movement would miss the ideas and advice of the late activist.
His words: "I received the death of Pa Imoudu with shock. Although he was aged, the Nigeria Labour movement was benefiting immensely from ideas and labour leadership advice it got from him."
Orisakwe described the late centenarian activist as a pillar of labour movement in Nigeria, adding that he started real radical labour movement.
Imoudu fought for the emancipation of the Nigerian workers. His death is a blow to the labour movement. His death has created a vacuum that will be difficult for labour movement in Nigeria to fill.
Orisakwe recalled that Imoudu was the first president of the Trade Union of Nigeria before the then military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, proscribed and instead gave recognition to the Nigeria Labour congress. He prayed God to accept Imodu's soul and give him everlasting rest.
Also reacting to his Imoudu's death, the General Secretary of Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Mr. Jarvis Erhomosele, said Pa Imoudu in his time upheld the strength of the union.
"At his time, position and money were not what they strove for but to unite the union and pursue the dream he stated."
Erhomosele charged those in positions of leadership in unions today to emulate the role Imoudu played during his active days.
The Lagos Zonal Secretary of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the National Union of Petroleum and National Gas Workers Union (NUPENG), Mr. Adekunle Akinlaja, said Imoudu was a great leader.
"All of us will miss him being one of the great pioneers who set the labour union on a firm footing," Akinlaja said.
It is generally believed that Pa Imoudu spurred the struggle against racism in Nigeria through the national strike of 1944 and the 1945 general strike. He was also largely instrumental to the coal miners' strike of 1949 in Enugu, which resulted in the shooting of the miners and was eventually to trigger the 1951 Macpherson Constitution that fired the struggle for national independence.
Pa Imoudu was also a good teacher. He was reputed to have taught the first Nigerian that got a Ph.D.
Amongst Imoudu's remarkable teachings were: strategizing for a cause, carrying the workers along, as well as display of discipline.
The late labour leader in an interview in 1997 had recounted how he drove the "white man" (the colonialists) away. "I organised labour to drive the Whitman away," he enthused, noting then that although Nigeria was an independent nation, it was not witnessing development.
"Although Nigeria had gained Independence and we now rule ourselves, nothing is moving in the country. Things are not moving well," he had lamented eight years ago.
"The rich have become richer and the poor, poorer. Everybody is crying."
A statement by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said "the congress family is saddened by his death and take pride in the good life he lived."
The statement issued by NLC President Adams Oshiomohole further declared: "His prominent and pioneering contributions to the development of Nigeria's labour movement is highly appreciated by the NLC."
Imoudu used his railway union platform to build the Nigeria Trade Union Movement. He was president of the All Nigeria Trade Federation (ANTUF) from 1947 to 1958, and was the first president of the then NLC in 1950.
It noted that as a railway worker, Imoudu developed deep interest in trade unionism and politics. His advent in the union brought unprecedented militancy and radically activist dimension to the movement.
"The impact of the Nigeria Labour movement on the nationalists' efforts and the birth of modern Nigeria owed a lot to the meticulous networking and grass roots work pioneered by Imoudu," the statement said.
It stated that it was to Imoudu's credit that the labour movement recorded the longest strike of 44 days in Nigerian history in 1945.
According to NLC, the strike contributed significantly to the ultimate attainment of the nation's independence.
The Pan-Africanist had his education in government school, Ora and the Roman Catholic Schools in Onitsha and Agbor.
He started his formal working career as linesman in the department of post and telecommunications before moving to the Nigeria Railway Corporation.
He first came into limelight when he led more than 3,000 workers of the railways to storm the colonial government house in 1941 to fight for Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)
Imoudu held the national honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic and a Doctorate Degree in Law (Honorary Causa) from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, among others.
Reacting to the news of Pa Imoudu's death, chairman of the Lagos State Council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mrs. Theophlus Orisakwe said the labour movement would miss the ideas and advice of the late activist.
His words: "I received the death of Pa Imoudu with shock. Although he was aged, the Nigeria Labour movement was benefiting immensely from ideas and labour leadership advice it got from him."
Orisakwe described the late centenarian activist as a pillar of labour movement in Nigeria, adding that he started real radical labour movement.
Imoudu fought for the emancipation of the Nigerian workers. His death is a blow to the labour movement. His death has created a vacuum that will be difficult for labour movement in Nigeria to fill.
Orisakwe recalled that Imoudu was the first president of the Trade Union of Nigeria before the then military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, proscribed and instead gave recognition to the Nigeria Labour congress. He prayed God to accept Imodu's soul and give him everlasting rest.
Also reacting to his Imoudu's death, the General Secretary of Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Mr. Jarvis Erhomosele, said Pa Imoudu in his time upheld the strength of the union.
"At his time, position and money were not what they strove for but to unite the union and pursue the dream he stated."
Erhomosele charged those in positions of leadership in unions today to emulate the role Imoudu played during his active days.
The Lagos Zonal Secretary of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the National Union of Petroleum and National Gas Workers Union (NUPENG), Mr. Adekunle Akinlaja, said Imoudu was a great leader.
"All of us will miss him being one of the great pioneers who set the labour union on a firm footing," Akinlaja said.
It is generally believed that Pa Imoudu spurred the struggle against racism in Nigeria through the national strike of 1944 and the 1945 general strike. He was also largely instrumental to the coal miners' strike of 1949 in Enugu, which resulted in the shooting of the miners and was eventually to trigger the 1951 Macpherson Constitution that fired the struggle for national independence.
Pa Imoudu was also a good teacher. He was reputed to have taught the first Nigerian that got a Ph.D.
Amongst Imoudu's remarkable teachings were: strategizing for a cause, carrying the workers along, as well as display of discipline.
The late labour leader in an interview in 1997 had recounted how he drove the "white man" (the colonialists) away. "I organised labour to drive the Whitman away," he enthused, noting then that although Nigeria was an independent nation, it was not witnessing development.
"Although Nigeria had gained Independence and we now rule ourselves, nothing is moving in the country. Things are not moving well," he had lamented eight years ago.
"The rich have become richer and the poor, poorer. Everybody is crying."
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