‘Our Patriotism Is Unshakable,’ Ajaero says after honouring police invitation described by NLC as trumped-up and politically motivated to silence organised labour

On Thursday what would have resulted in an ugly clash by protesting members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was averted, by Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and human rights lawyer, at the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office, in Abuja.

Falana, alongside Deji Adeyanju and Maxwell Opara among others who accompanied Joe Ajaero, the NLC President to the police station, persuaded the workers to stop the protests, averting crisis as the police.

Report revealed that the Police had mobilised its men and stationed them a few meters away from the NLC headquarters, Abuja, as early as 7am.

Sensing that the situation would have become uncontrollable, Falana was able to persuade the NLC members to stay away from the Police formation, adding that he would handle the invitation professionally.

The visit followed an invitation by the police for “interview” on charges connected to “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime “.

The invitation letter, signed by Adamu Mu’azu (ACP) on behalf of the Commissioner of Police Intelligence, dated August 19, 2024, stated that Ajaero’s name had surfaced during ongoing investigations concerning “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”

And following the intervention, Ajaero was accompanied by the team of lawyers and a few of NLC members and arrived at the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office in Abuja at about 10:20 a.m.

In response to the police invitation, the NLC had instructed all its members across the nation to participate in a peaceful prayer procession today, August 29, as a show of solidarity with their leader.

Several unions, including the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), National Union of Telecommunication Employees (NUPTE), Radio and Television and Act Workers Union (RATTAWU), were spotted on ground chanting solidarity songs.

At the end of the interrogation which lasted for about an hour, Ajaero and his legal team left the IRT at about 11:15 a.m, in an NLC branded bus that brought them.

At the NLC headquarters, Emma Ugboaja, General Secretary of the NLC, while addressing members accused the Federal Government of chasing shadows, mockingly saying Ajaero was never on the run.

“Besides which money does the NLC President have to fund terrorism,” he asked rhetorically

He said rather than thinking of how they would implement the new minimum wage which has just been passed into law, the government was busy fighting perceived enemies.

Maxwell Opara while also speaking after the NLC leader’s visit to the Police IRT, revealed that nothing much transpired during the interrogation, adding that “ it was just a simple question directed at Ajaero to explain what he knew about the tenant (alleged terrorist) at the 2nd floor of the Labour House, after which he was asked to go”.

Ajero who described the police invitation as one of the hazards of being a labour leader said the labour movement is the most patriotic organisation in the country, promising that the union won’t compromise its patriotism no matter the challenge it faces.

He said this while addressing a crowd of labour members who gathered at the NLC headquarters to welcome him after honouring an invitation by the police.

“The labour movement is worth dying for because of the patriotism and commitment. Labour movement is one of the biggest pan Nigeria organisations, our patriotism from the days of colonial government to even the period of the military is unshakable,” Ajaero said.

“We are more patriotic than any other institution you can think of in this country and we are going to continue to be that. We have gone there and we are back, I just want to confirm to you that as a citizen we have gone there and we are back here.”