The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has called on the Federal Government not to delay the trial of the President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero following allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime in which he was mentioned.
In a statement release by the Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran and signed by its Director of Administration and Programmes, Tola Oresanwo, the group raised eyebrows on the recent seeming overzealous moves by the law enforcement agent (Police) to repress the voice of the masses.
“The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, received the news of the invitation of the President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero for questioning by the Nigeria Police with mixed feelings.
“It would be recalled that the police had on July 7, conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja, a move that triggered media war between the organised labour and the police.”
“We would like to call on the government to immediately charge the NLC President to court if truly they have evidence to back up the claim that he is involved in any crime whatsoever against the state.
“We would also like to call on the government to be ready to compensate him for the embarrassment if the claim were later found out to be trumped-up charges.
“We have observed that some agencies of the state are carrying out clandestine operations to arrest and persecute those that participated in the #Endbadgovernance protest.”
CACOL maintains its stance on the arrest of protesters, citing protest as an inalienable right of everyone as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria.
“For the umpteenth time, we are reiterating our position of disappointment over the arrest of protesters just on the basis of publicly associating with a protest aimed at decrying the socio-economic situation in the country and for calling for far reaching reforms that could give necessary reliefs to majority of Nigerians.
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“Since citizens of this great country have the rights to support any peaceful protest that is in tandem with their personal opinion or conviction, it is wrong for any agency of government to launch a campaign of calumny or attempt to witch-hunt or arrest them based on their affiliation or association with a particular protest.
“It is therefore tantamount to gross abuse of power and authority for any agency of government to condescend so low to the extent of harassing citizens as a result of their involvement in any peaceful protest.
The CACOL Boss added, “While we are using this medium to advise the Nigeria Police and other Nigerian security apparatus to be rightly and correctly guided of their operations, nuances and limitations under a democracy, so as not to resort to any arm-twisting or repressive attitudes over legitimate and peaceful agitations under any guise.
“The Police as an agent of the Executive, judiciary and other arms of government must at all times, be seen to operate within the ambit of the rule of law and Separation of power, without which the state and the general public descend into an Hobbesian state of Nature.
“As a veritable stakeholder in the Nigerian project, we would like to reiterate that we are not in any way in support of anyone or group of persons engaging in terrorism financing, arson, treasonable felony, or any other crime against the state.”