President Goodluck Jonathan was, for the first time he became President, conspicuously absent at today’s May Day rally in Abuja. No reason was given from the Presidency as to his absence, though the Labour minister, Senator Joel Ikenya was on hand to represent him.
Workers, drawn from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had trooped out en mass to the Eagle Square to observe the day, and expected the President to come and address them.
Nigerians workers had expected that the President would have ceased the opportunity to give them some parting words, as they have stood by him for the past six years he has handled state affairs.
The minister’s presentation, however, shows that the Presidency did not prepare any speech to be read on his behalf. The speech he read and claimed to be on behalf of the President was later withdrawn by his aides and not made available to journalists. [myad]
