Senator Adams Oshiomhole of Edo North spoke out on Wednesday against a protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Imo State two weeks ago, led by its president, Joe Ajaero, which kicked off a series of events that culminated in an ongoing nationwide strike by organised labour.
The former NLC president, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today, called Ajaero’s supposed involvement in the election of the NLC chairman in the south-eastern state, in the lead-up to last Saturday’s highly anticipated governorship election.
Ajaero was arrested on November 1, in the middle of a protest and strike action by the NLC in the state and released hours later with visible bruises, prompting allegations of torture against the Imo State Police Command.
Oshiomhole noted that as a result, the NLC president banned flights out of the state.
“He ordered… no transport out of Imo [and that] Imo must be grounded. And not a few people wondered about the timing,” the senator said.
“If you don’t want the governor, the more reason you should allow the people to go and vote — and vote him out – if your opinion is shared by a majority of the people. But you cannot arrest democracy.”
Oshimohole pointed out that the incumbent NLC president is from Imo State “and this is the second time they are having a showdown with the governor – and the issues are never really clear”.
According to him, the first instance was over a dispute about the workers’ preference in the election of the chairman of the NLC in Imo State Council.
In the senator’s view, the NLC president must be seen to be above board and must not “drag himself into the little issues,” particularly when they are dealing with their own state.
Credit: channelstv.com
