.…..We’re getting into military era, as Civil Society orgs, TUC, others kick
…..Arrest poverty, hunger, not innocent Nigerians, PDP tackles Tinubu
Arrested Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, was released late Monday by the Department of State Services, DSS even as the government agency’s action has been greeted by widespread condemnation nationwide.
Vanguard was informed by one of the NLC leaders that Ajaero was released at about 11.10p.m yesterday.
Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Aiport in Abuja, on his way to London to attend the Trade Union Congress, TUC of the United Kingdom conference, which began yesterday. Ajaero arrest came as the secret police laid siege to the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, for allegedly asking the government to reverse the recent increase in the price of petrol.
SERAP has, however, asked President Bola Tinubu to direct the DSS to stop its attack.
Confirming Ajaero’s arrest, the Head of Information of the NLC, Mr Benson Upah, however, said the union had no idea on the whereabouts of Ajaero, saying he (Ajaero) it was the DSS that arrested him.
Vanguard gathered yesterday that the Labour leader had been moved to the National Intelligence Agency, NIA.
His arrest came 11 days after he honoured an invitation by the Police on August 29, and was released the same day.
A day before he honoured the invitation, the police on August 28 re-invited Ajaero “in furtherance of investigations into an alleged case of criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause a breach of public peace and malicious damage to properties in which your name featured.”
“You are requested to come along with Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja for an interview with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department, FID, through the undersigned, at SPO’s Room 12, 2nd Floor, Force Intelligence Department, FID, Complex, Shehu Shagari way, opposite Force Headquarters Area 11, Garki, Abuja on Thursday, 5th September 2024 at 11am.
“On arrival, you may wish to call Mr. Usman on GSM number 08039659139. Your cooperation in this regard is highly solicited, please,” the police invitation read.
Arrest not connected to police invitation – Falana
Speaking on the issue, yesterday, legal adviser to NLC, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, said the arrest of his client was not connected with an earlier invitation by the Police, adding that the secret police had failed to provide any reason for Ajaero’s arrest.
“The invitation to Comrade Joe Ajaero by the police was rescheduled last week. I have contacted the police authorities. The arrest is not related to the police invitation.
“Comrade Ajaero was on his way to London to attend the ongoing TUC conference when he was arrested at the airport this morning (yesterday) by the DSS. No reason has been provided for the arrest,’’ Falana said.
Also, the NLC dismissed insinuations that Ajaero was arrested for failing to honour an invitation by the DSS, or any other security agency, saying the report was nothing but mere mischief.
An online platform had claimed that a local airline, Air Peace, wrote a petition against the NLC President, adding that when the DSS invited Ajaero for interrogation, he failed to honour the invite.
Dismissing the report, Head, Media /Information, Benson Upah, said: “We know those behind the baseless report. They should come open and tell the world why the NLC president was arrested. I can tell you that he was not arrested for failure to honour any invitation by the security agencies.
‘’The only invitation we know of was the one by the Police on September 5, 2024, for which we have an understanding with the Police that Ajaero will honour the invitation on September 24 because of several commitments within and outside the country.”
We’ve withdrawn our 2023 petition against Ajaero – Air Peace
However, Air Peace Airline has faulted reports that the DSS arrested Ajaero due to his failure to honour police invitation over its petition.
Noting that it wrote a petition against the NLC in 2023, following a dispute that ensued between both parties, Air Peace said the petition had long been withdrawn.
Spokesperson of the airlines, Omotade Makinwa, in a statement, said having resolved their differences, the airline and NLC shared a cordial relationship, noting that anything that could break the bond should be jettisoned.
The statement read: “Air Peace Airline expresses deep concern over recent media reports regarding the arrest of the President of the NLC in connection to a petition filed by the airline in September 2023. This development, which has led to negative publicity, does not reflect the current relationship between Air Peace and the NLC.
“It is important to clarify the events leading up to the petition. On May 3, 2023, the NLC disrupted Air Peace operations as part of a broader conflict with the Imo State Government.
Although Air Peace had no involvement in the dispute between the NLC and the Imo State Government, our airline was unfortunately used as a tool to exert pressure on the government. This unlawful disruption of our services caused significant financial losses and impacted the travel plans of many Nigerians across multiple states.
“In response to this disruption, Air Peace’s legal team submitted a formal petition against the NLC to the Nigerian Police. Despite our repeated efforts to follow up on the petition, the Police failed to take prompt action.
“However, over a year later, the Nigerian Police have chosen to act on the original petition, which has now led to the alleged arrest of the NLC president. Prior to this arrest, the airline and the NLC had already reached an amicable resolution, and Air Peace had withdrawn its petition, allowing a positive working relationship to resume between the two organisations.”
OUTRAGE
Those who condemned the arrest of the NLC leader, yesterday, and called for his immediate release include the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC; National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE; Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN; Amnesty International; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; United Action Front of Civil Society, UAFCS; and Human Rights Writers Association, HURIWA.
NLC’s ultimatum
In a communiqué at the end of its National Administrative Council, NAC, meeting, signed by its Deputy President, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, the NLC said the emergency meeting was “to address the alarming and unlawful arrest and detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, by agents of the Nigerian government.
“Comrade Ajaero was arrested and detained at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja en-route the United Kingdom, where he was scheduled to attend and address the Congress of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, of Britain, representing Nigerian workers in critical discussions on workers’ rights and social justice.”
After extensive deliberation, NAC condemned what it described as “brazen and illegal detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian state without any legal warrant or justification.”
It noted that Ajaero was lawfully discharging his duties to represent Nigerian workers and had not committed any offence warranting such action.
“His detention is an affront on the rights of workers and the democratic principles of freedom of movement and expression,’’ NAC stated.
Consequently, NLC demanded immediate and unconditional release of Ajaero before 12 midnight today (Monday) because “Ajaero is not a fugitive or a criminal, and his detention is an act of intimidation aimed at silencing dissent and stifling the labour movement’s voice in Nigeria.”
NLC affiliates on red alert
Also demanding immediate reversal of the current hike in the price of petrol to about N900/litre, NLC placed “all its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies, and the Nigerian populace on red alert. ‘’
The detention of Comrade Ajaero is an attack not just on the NLC leadership but also on the rights of all workers and citizens to organize, protest, and express themselves freely.
“NLC will not stand by while these rights are trampled upon. This provocation is another attempt by the state to scuttle the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage. The NLC reaffirms its commitment to defending the rights of Nigerian workers and citizens.
“Congress will not relent in its efforts to oppose all forms of oppression. NAC-in-session, therefore, summons an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council, NEC, by 9:00 am tomorrow (today), September 10, 2024, to take compelling action to engage the current forces of retrogression.”
NUEE fumes
Reacting to Ajaero’s arrest, the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, also demanded his immediate and unconditional release without harm.
This came as the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, also put employers and other stakeholders in the nation’s maritime industry on notice over his arrest.
NUEE in a statement by its Acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, put workers in the nation’s power sector on red alert for any eventuality.
The statement read: “Joe Ajaero has been detained and treated like a fugitive that he is not, without access to his lawyers, families and colleagues. This brazen act of intimidation and harassment is a violation of his fundamental rights and freedom as a Nigerian citizen.
“We demand unequivocal and unconditional release of Joe Ajaero without any harm meted out on him. We are using this medium to put all our members on alert for further directives.”
Maritime workers
Similarly, MWUN in a release by its President-General and 1st Deputy President of NLC, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, kicked against the arrest of the labour leader.
Adeyanju in the statement signed by John Kennedy Ikemefuna, Head of Media, said: “MWUN frowns on this ugly incident on the Congress’ President, whose rights have been extremely violated by the security agents of the state, hence, MWUN is calling for the immediate, unconditional release of Ajaero, the NLC President.
“Given the preceding, the union will have no other option if he’s not released but to comply with directives that may come from the Nigeria Labour Congress on this matter.”
TUC kicks
Piqued by the DSS action, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Ajaero..
TUC in a statement by its President, Festus Osifo, said: “TUC has received with grave concern the news of the arrest of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, earlier today (yesterday). ‘’This unjust action represents a clear violation of the rights to freedom of association and expression, fundamental pillars in any democratic society.
“Congress firmly condemns the arrest and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. This arrest sets a dangerous precedence that threatens not only the leadership of the Nigerian labour movement but also the voices of millions of working-class Nigerians who rely on unions to represent and protect their interests.
“It is imperative that the government respects the rule of law, democratic norms, and the legitimate rights of workers and their representatives. The labour movement has always stood for peaceful negotiations.
“We, therefore, urge the Nigerian government to prioritize dialogue and reconciliation over harassment. We stand in solidarity with the NLC and reaffirm our commitment to defending the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers.”
Arrest is attempt to cause anarchy — UAFCS
Speaking in like manner, the United Action Front of Civil Society, UAFCS, described as “needless show of force” DSS’ arrest of Ajaero.
In a statement by its spokesman, Mallam Hamisu Santuraki, the UAFCS said the move could “lead to mass resistance and civil disobedience in the country if Ajaero is not released immediately.”
The group kick-started consultations to halt the emerging police state and repression of civil and democracy space in Nigeria.
It said: “As a matter of fact, Comrade Joe Ajaero is a huge leader of both the Labour movement and the masses of Nigeria, given his popular position as the President of the NLC and, therefore, deserves to be treated with profound decorum and courtesy.
‘’Consequently, security issues with him should be handled with due process and not in the rough manner displayed by security agents today (yesterday), which is capable of causing national chaos and anarchy
“We, therefore, wish to unequivocally condemn this needless rascality employed by the DSS against the President of the NLC which has already generated shockwaves through the length and breadth of the country and may lead to mass resistance and civil disobedience in the country, if Ajaero is not released immediately by the state.”
Arrest poverty, hunger, not innocent Nigerians, PDP tells Tinubu
On its part, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, cautioned the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress, APC, administration against the indiscriminate arrest of labour leaders, activists, protesters and innocent citizens because such arrests could throw the nation into chaos.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, gave the words of caution while reacting to the arrest and detention of Ajaero by DSS operatives.
The party also urged President Tinubu to channel his energy towards addressing the nation’s rising inflation, poverty, and hunger and improve security because this is what he was elected to do.
Ologunagba said: “There is a need for caution, there was a protest in this country, the government did not do anything. You arrested some people and said they were terrorists and you charged them to court. You say some people were the sponsors of the protest.
“We know those who sponsored the protest. The sponsor is hunger, the President and his people; arrest hunger and there will be no protest.”
Stop arbitrary arrests, abductions, detentions of activists, unionists — HURIWA
Condemning the arrest of Ajaero, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, in a statement by it National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, condemned security forces’ constant harassment and arrest of of key human rights, media and trade union figures and particularly Ajaero and urged the government to stop it.
“We are by this statement, calling for the immediate cessation of all kinds of coordinated attacks targeting the NLC, human rights campaigners and media practitioners by this administration so as to protect and preserve constitutional principles in Nigeria,” it said.
CISLAC to FG: Tell Nigerians what NLC boss has done
Similarly, Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, Awwal Rafsanjani, said: “First and foremost, we are just worried at the rate the civic space is being attacked in Nigeria and shrinking.
‘’If there is any credible evidence against the NLC leader, the government should make it public so Nigerians would know. But to harass, arrest and detain him is sending to the international community a wrong signal about the regime’s intolerance.
“Government should know that we don’t need international condemnation by our overzealous actions on things that have not been officially established by the authority. Nigerian officials should do everything to promote and protect the right of every Nigerian.
We’re getting into military era – ActionAid
Also, the Country Director, of ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, Andrew Mamedu, said: “We are getting into where we were in military era, a military way of life where citizens can no longer live freely and express themselves, you are not sure of who will be the next to be picked up.
‘’Why should you be invading the SERAP office? I think the President should communicate more because we are not in a military era and we are not saying people will not be questioned. If you toe that path, people will ask questions.
‘’If they are doing this to deter citizens from expressing themselves, they are only barking up the wrong tree. They are going on wrong way because this will not deter citizens, it will only heighten the level of citizens’ rejection of this way of life. It is not going to augur well for us, and if there are ripple effects of this, then the government should know what it caused.’’
Nigerians under reign of terror – Adeyanju
In his reaction, human rights activist and lawyer to one of the #EndBadGovernance groups, Deji Adeyanju, said: “He (Tinubu) has tried to bully Ajaero and the entire labour union a few weeks ago, now they have gone for the jugular, they have arrested Joe Ajaero, they have broken down the office of SERAP.
‘’Anyone that dares challenge Bola Tinubu should get ready, and the nation should collectively rise against this tyranny and this reign of terror that ‘General’ Bola Tinubu is currently unleashing on the country, and that is the only way out to defend its democracy
End DSS attack against us, SERAP tells Tinubu
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, yesterday urged President Tinubu “to immediately direct the DSS to end the intimidation and harassment and attack against our organization and the threat of arrest against our directors.”
Recall that the secret police laid siege to the group’s Abuja office yesterday, following its position on the recent increase in the price of petrol by the federal government.
In a statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “We condemn the invasion of our Abuja office today (yesterday) by Nigeria’s Department of State Services, DSS.
‘’The invasion of SERAP’s office by the DSS and the harassment and intimidation of our staff members is a brutal assault on the entire human rights community in the country.
“The escalating crackdown on human rights, and harassment and intimidation of NGOs and human rights defenders that have shown astonishing courage in their human rights work hurt those most in need, undermine access of Nigerian victims of human rights violations and abuses to justice, and contribute to a culture of impunity of perpetrators.
“This government has an obligation to support and protect civil society groups and human rights defenders. We are seriously concerned about the growing restrictions on civic space and the brutal crackdown on the human rights of Nigerians
Source: Vanguard
