Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) has accused Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State of attempting to assassinate the National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
The activist however urged NLC to shut down Nigeria until Uzodinma is removed from office.
Information Nigeria had reported that some miscreants hijacked NLC’s protest in Owerri, the State capital on Wednesday.
The NLC president was in Owerri to mobilize Imo workers for a mega protest rally in the State over an alleged violation and abuse of rights and privileges of workers by the state government.
The violence that ensued during the rally led men of the Nigeria Police Force to take Ajaero under protective custody.
Reacting via X, Sowore said: “This barbarism is unacceptable, @HopeUzodinma sent thugs to assault and possibly assassinate @NLCHeadquarters President Joe Ajaero.
“The @NLCHeadquarters ought to shut down the country until the Imo State Governor and his thugs are removed from office. #RevolutionNow.”
“This is just crazy. @NLCHeadquarters President Joe Ajaero was beaten by the @PoliceNG, in collusion with the State Governor, @HopeUzodinma. They were really after his life and I hope the @NLCHeadquarters would shake off their complacency and make an example of those involved in this heinous crime. They’re a police officers, there is no doubt about it. This is just plain criminal,” he posted.
Meanwhile, human rights activist, Femi Falana, has called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure that officers who allegedly brutalised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero are arrested and prosecuted.
Recall also that the Union had alleged Ajaero was thoroughly brutalised after taken by security operatives.
Benson Upah, media head of the NLC said, “Immediately after his arrest, he was beaten up and blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination where more brutalisation took place, sometimes with bottles.
“Contact was made with Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero this evening around 1530 hours at the police hospital in Owerri from where he was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where he is receiving medical attention.
“Thoroughly brutalized, his right eye at the time of contact was completely shut.
“His phones, money and other personal effects were taken off him and have not been returned to him.”
However, Falana said the explanation given by the police was tainted with loopholes.
In a statement he signed, Falana wondered why the police failed to arrest the miscreants that brutalised the NLC President in their presence.
He said: “The police version of the brutalisation of the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajero is full of loopholes.
“Why did the police allow Comrade Ajero to be brutalised by the so-called miscreants? In other words, why did the police not protect him from the violent attack?
“So the police who witnessed the attack without making any arrest suddenly turned round to take the victim to the police clinic. The members of the public who decried the barbaric attack took pictures, which exposed the misleading version of the police.
“It is disturbing that the police justified the action of the so-called miscreants by saying that Comrade Ajero has disobeyed the order of a court. Why did the police not allow the court to purge Comrade Ajero of contempt of court?
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate and ensure that the police officers who brutalised the NLC President are prosecuted without any delay.”
