Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has lashed out at the Federal Government after the earlier arrest and detention of Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), by the personnel of the Department of State Service (DSS).
The union leader was eventually released in the la hours of Monday but the former Vice President did not mince words in condemning the arrest and saying that the development underlined the desire of the present administration to not only intimidate the labour union but to subdue the congress.
Taking to his verified Facebook page, the former Vice President urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration and security agencies to redirect their intimidation towards the perpetrators of violence.
The former Vice President, in a post on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, also alleged that the level of oppressive control imposed by Tinubu’s administration now surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship.
Recall that the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, was arrested by the Department of State Services on Monday morning at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while heading to the UK for official duties.
On the same day, the DSS also raided the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)’s Abuja office.
Ajaero was held in custody throughout the day and was released late Monday night.
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In his response, Atiku stated that Ajaero’s arrest exemplifies the current administration’s persistent efforts to intimidate and suppress organised labour.
He stated, “The escalating assault on civil society and the media by the Bola Tinubu administration is profoundly disturbing. The level of oppressive control now imposed surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship.
“The recent arrest of Mr Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, en route to an official event, epitomises this regime’s relentless campaign to intimidate and subdue organised labour.”
The former Vice President added that the DSS raid on SERAP was fundamentally opposed to the principles of freedom and justice.
The post read in part, “Just days prior, security forces detained a journalist, only to later claim it was a grievous error. What if the outcome had been fatal?
“Now, Tinubu’s regime extends its repressive grasp to encroach upon SERAP, an action that stands as a grave affront to our democratic values. This siege is anathema to the principles of freedom and justice.
“Tinubu and his security apparatus must redirect their fervour and intimidation towards the true perpetrators of violence — terrorists and bandits — who are inflicting immeasurable suffering upon the Nigerian people.”
