The United Action Front of Civil Society has made a compelling demand regarding the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who has been asked to,
“resign immediately and leave Nigeria or risk public embarrassment from Nigerian workers and the masses henceforth wherever he goes.”
This request follows the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, by the police in Owerri, the Imo state capital, while organizing a rally to protest against stalled wage payments for workers in the state.
In response to Ajaero’s arrest, the NLC revealed that he was “thoroughly” brutalized and almost blinded, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The civil society organization, through a statement signed by Olawale Okunniyi (Veteran Che), Head of the National Coordinating Secretariat, argued that the ordeal suffered by the NLC President is a result of actions by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government against Nigerian workers and the masses.
Furthermore, the group has called upon President Bola Tinubu to “tender an unreserved public apology to Nigerian workers for the police brutality against Ajaero or face unprecedented mass actions.”
In their statement, the United Action Front of Civil Society expressed their dismay, stating,
“The United Action Front of Civil Society again wishes to express our sadness over the bestial brutalization of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, which was orchestrated by Supreme Court Governor, Hope Uzodimma of Imo State in a bid to thwart a popular mass protest of Labour in Imo State.”
The statement continued, “Hope Uzodimma has definitely crossed the Rubicon for ordering his attack police and thugs to beat up and brutalize the leader of all Nigerian workers. So, he is advised to resign immediately and leave Nigeria or risk public embarrassment from Nigerian workers and masses henceforth wherever he goes.”
Concerns about the Bola Tinubu government’s possible involvement in the police’s actions during the Workers’ Rally in Imo were also raised. The statement demanded that Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
“tender an unreserved public apology to Nigerian workers and the President, Comrade Joe Ajaero within the next three days or risk an unprecedented mass actions capable of shutting down State business indefinitely.”
The statement concluded with a resounding call for accountability, saying,
“Enough is Enough! Nigeria belongs to the Nigerian people and workers. We can no longer tolerate this executive recklessness and impunity of the APC rule. It is time to decide who owns Nigeria. APC government has committed a heist against the Nigerian people and workers and it must be atoned for in a big way.”
| Sahara Reporters
