…As Council Takes Special Prayer Procession to Anambra Police Command
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
Following the alleged terrorism financing and cybercrime allegations levelled against the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the Anambra State Chairman of NLC, Comrade (Sir) Humphrey Nwafor, has queried the motive behind the invitation of the leader of the Organized Labour by the Nigeria Police for alleged terrorism and cybercrime, saying the Nigerian workers are too decent and trained to be enmeshed in what he described as such a dishonourable act.
The Anambra State Labour Leader who stated this in his office in Awka shortly after the Prayer Procession to Anambra State Police Headquarters, Amawbia, in Awka South Local Government Area, expressed dissatisfaction with the shape the matter had taken, describing the actions of the FG and the Police as quite detrimental to the image of the labour movement and not only Ajaero as a person.
Comrade Nwafor called on members of the NLC in Anambra State to remain calm and law-abiding citizens, stating that they would be briefed on further action, adding that if anything negative should happen, all the workers would be at home in solidarity with their leader.
‘An injury to one, is an injury to all. The Federal Government is advised just to take it easy. They should not take any struggle made in good faith to be a personal issue that they will use to victimise any. I’m not actually saying that it is a victimisation.
‘Simultaneously, we have been on prayer processions across the 36 states and the FCT to the Police Command Headquarters in all the states. Today in Anambra, we are at the Police Command, Amawbia, where the police Headquarters is domiciled.
We have intimated them that Labour and police are supposed to be working in unison, because the struggle of the Labour Movement is for the benefit of everybody in the country. They should not rope the National President of NLC into a mess; a weighty allegation of being a terrorist.
‘It is quite detrimental to the image of the Labour Movement. I cannot say authoritatively that it is victimization, but I have never heard that a Labour leader is involved in terrorism or cybercrime since I joined the struggle. Civil and public servants are well trained. We have morals and we are law-abiding citizens. We are being distinguished as outstanding individuals.
‘So, accusing a person occupying such a reputable position, undermines the integrity of the Labour Movement in the country. The allegations are weighty. It is unheard of,’ Comrade Nwafor concluded.
Some of those who attended the post-Prayer Procession meeting included the State Chairman of the National Union of Market Traders Employers of Nigeria (NUMTEN) Anambra State Council, Comrade Nnamsom Nwafor-Orizu; and the Secretary of the Union, Comrade Great Ikechukwu Ugwuoke, among others.
