CDHR, CACOL demand prosecution of attackers of NLC President in Imo

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), and the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) in a joint statement condemned the heinous attack on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajero, in Imo State by security operatives.

The Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL); and President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Debo Adeniran, in a statement for the two organisations, declared: “the seemingly official vagabondage ongoing in Imo State by officers of the Nigerian Police Force in cohort with armed fascist thugs deserves the comprehensive condemnation of all well-meaning, conscientious persons.

“It is not just an offensive on rights, the value systems of democracy, rule of law and constitutionalism, but an arrant display of anarchy capable of derailing our nascent democratic governance.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot afford to keep partisan indifference as the State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, as the Chief Security Officer of the State, cannot be fully innocent of being complicit in the emerging fiasco.

“I dare to call for urgent intervention of the Federal Government to the security of lives and properties of hapless citizens in the State.”

The groups recalled that the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, was heavily brutalized while he was in Imo State to lead a protest of workers over the non-payment of backlogs of workers’ salaries, pensioners’ stipends, as well as withholding of the Union’s check off dues, amongst other sundry demands.

“Right to protest is absolutely guaranteed by Section 40 of our extant Constitution.

“To the chagrin of all, armed thugs brazenly unleashed violence on the workers and labour leaders, Ajaero was subsequently picked by the operatives of the Nigeria Police ostensibly on protective custody which the organized labour claimed was an “abduction” to filibuster legitimate workers’ protest.

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“Again, on Sunday, 5th November 2023, media reported the invasion of a place of worship in the State by a combined squad of armed, fascist thugs and the Police to attack an aspirant in the gubernatorial elections slated for Saturday, causing severe mayhem.
“Irrespective of any rationalization from any quarter, there are abundance of constitutional provisions and legal institutions to approach for redress rather than resort to brigandage, terror and impunity which are clearly antithetical to democratic culture and principles.

“I am of the strong view that even if the NLC President is indeed guilty of pursuing partisan positions as alleged by Imo State Government, the law should prevail above all other considerations. Humanity has gone beyond the anachronistic deployment of fascist strike breakers, armed militias to prevent industrial strike action. Thus, those who are behind the heinous brutalization of Comrade Joe Ajaero should be exposed, fished out and made to dance to the music of pertinent prosecution.

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The labour aristocracy must equally tidy its own home front, a situation where the National and State Councils dig trenches at cross purposes is highly unhealthy for sound, principled industrial relations practices. Discretion on timing and positioning of the protest activation processes would have effectively voided the diversionary, partisan allegations.

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“It may be indeed imperative to emphasize however, that members of the Trade Unions in the United Kingdom and South Africa are very active in the leaderships of the Labour Party and African National Congress, ANC in both countries respectively. Freedom of Association up to joining and belonging to a political party and trade unions can never be abridged, violated by any partisan interrogation or justifications whatsoever. We unequivocally call on the leadership of organized labour, the NLC/TUC to do whatever is deemed constitutionally necessary to make sure that the perpetrators of this degeneration into bestialities have their days in the court.

“I am not completely satisfied with the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Egbetokun’s deployment of the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Stephen Olanrewaju, I call for dispassionate inquisition into the culpability of the Officers of the Police Force in the attack on Ajaero and other criminal violence in the State, fish out the collaborators along with their armed thugs, perpetrators should face the full wrath of the law. More importantly, Mr. President should immediately order the deployment of fresh, neutral security forces with direct mandate to ensure adequate provision of security of lives and properties before, during and after the forthcoming gubernatorial polls, the statement read.