4th April, 2022
President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, as he joins the club of septuagenarians on Monday, 4 April.
Oshiomhole was a former labour leader and also former chairman of the All Progressives Congress.
His team worked for Buhari’s second term victory in 2019.
Buhari congratulated Oshiomhole for the milestone and praised him for his salutary contributions to development of democracy and good governance.
President Buhari also praised the former labour leader for deploying his time and strength to the good of workers and Nigerians as a labour leader and accepting the call into politics to serve his state.
“Comrade Oshiomhole’s leadership strides in various sectors will stand the test of time”, Buhari said, according to a statement by Femi Adesina, his media adviser.
“The President notes the mental soundness and experience of the former APC leader, willingly dedicating himself for the greater good of the country, and acting as the voice of the voiceless in different ramifications”, Adesina said.
“As the former Governor turns 70, the President prays for good health, and continued service to God and humanity”.
Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole was born to Muslim parents. on 4 April 1952 at Iyamho, near Auchi in Edo State.
He converted into Christianity via the influence of his late wife, Clara. He became a Catholic and was given the Christian name of Eric.
However, he seldom uses the name.
After his secondary education, he obtained a job with the Arewa Textiles Company, where he was elected union secretary.
He became a full-time trade union organiser in 1975.
He rose to become the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress in 1999.
Under his watch, the NLC fought several battles, such as the campaign against fuel price increase.
His NLC also negotiated a new minimum wage for workers.
In April 2007, Adams Oshiomhole ran for Governor of Edo State under the Action Congress Party.
Initially, INEC declared him the loser and awarded victory to Professor Oserheimen Osunbor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The ensuing legal battles resulted into victory at the Appeal Court on 11 November 2008.
He was then sworn-in as governor of the state and to start the tenure afresh.
Four years after, he won a second term, with a landslide victory.
In June 2018, he was elected chairman of the ruling APC. He however did not finish his term, as political intrigues, which originated from his home state, led to his removal in June 2020.