The National Rescue Congress (NRC) has condemned the brutal attack meted to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, and workers in Imo State by thugs reportedly send by the state government under the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodinma.
NRC made the remarks in a press release jointly signed by Pastor Emmanuel Ihim, Esq. and Oloye Adegboyega Adeniji, dated November 2, 2023, saying that injustice to one is injustice to all.
In the press release entitled “National Rescue Congress condemns the brutal attack on NLC President and workers in Imo State“, NRC said the attack reflects a profound disrespect for democratic norms and the inherent rights of the Nigerian people.
The statement reads in part: “In a deeply concerning turn of events that reflects a profound disrespect for democratic norms and the inherent rights of the Nigerian people, the National Rescue Congress (NRC), a coalition of pro-democracy groups in the Diaspora and Nigeria, vehemently condemns the recent brutalization of workers, particularly the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, Imo State, by security agencies affiliated with the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma.
“In a barbaric display of power, eyewitnesses report that Comrade Ajaero was brutally assaulted by thugs mobilized by the state government and subsequently taken away by the police to an undisclosed location. This incident, occurring amidst a legitimate protest in Owerri, is not just a violation of democratic principles but an alarming indication that leaders appointed through controversial judicial pronouncements might exhibit tyrannical tendencies.”
NRC, therefore, called on Nigerians to be prepared for decisive actions to fundamentally transform our interpersonal and intergovernmental relationships towards positive development in Nigeria.
It noted that the incident in Imo State reflects a larger crisis in our democratic process where those in leadership, often not directly elected by the populace, fail to uphold the dignity and rights of the citizens they are meant to serve.
The group stated that the brutalization of Comrade Ajaero, a leading figure in Nigeria’s labour movement, is a threat to democracy and signifies a dangerous escalation in the suppression of civil liberties.
“This act of violence, coupled with the continued detention of Comrade Ajaero, is an affront to the principles of freedom of expression and assembly, pillars of any democratic society,” NRS stressed.
The group made the following demands:
1. Adequate Medical Provision for Comrade Ajaero: We demand that Comrade Joe Ajaero, who has been released, be flown to a well-equipped hospital abroad that can provide the urgent medical care for injuries sustained and determine the potential consequences of his health resulting from this attack.
2. Accountability for Perpetrators: We call for an independent investigation into the actions of the Imo State Government and the
complicit security agencies, leading to appropriate sanctions.
3. Safeguarding Democratic Principles: We demand a renewed commitment by all levels of government to protect the rights of citizens to protest and express dissent peacefully.
4. The National Rescue Congress remains committed to the struggle for a just and democratic Nigeria where the voices of all citizens are respected. We stand in solidarity with the workers of Imo State and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Let this incident catalyze renewed vigilance and action against any form of governmental overreach and suppression of democratic rights. Read more.
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