From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
A socio-cultural group called Dozie-Mezie Owerri Association has given Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state, a 48-hour ultimatum to apologise to the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, over his brutalization in the state last week.
The NLC president was last Wednesday arrested by operatives of the Nigerian Police during a protest rally organised by the Congress in response to claims that the state government was abusing and violating the rights of its workers.
Ajaero was brutalized, blindfolded and later taken to the hospital by the police agents who the NLC allegedly were attached to the governor of Imo State.
However, the Imo Police Command has refuted the allegations, saying that Ajaero was not arrested, but was taken into protective custody to avoid being lynched by a mob.
Meanwhile, the Organised Labour has declared it would embark on a nationwide strike from Wednesday, November 8 to protest the incident.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja at the weekend, Henry Chidi Opara, president of the Owerri group, described the attack on Ajaero as an ugly incident.
He noted that democracy required tolerance and respect for the fundamental rights of the people, including the right to disagree with the government and pursue such disagreement peacefully.
He said if after 48 hours the governor had not tendered the public apology, the group would view it as a deliberate affront to Owerri people and clear demonstration of bad faith to them.
“The unwarranted and unjustified attack on Mr Joe Ajaero in Ala-Owerri, his fatherland, is a gratuitous assault against the entire Owerri people and an unequivocal expression of Governor Uzodinma’s deep disregard for the Owerri people.
“It is sad to note that the first time a President of Congress would be physically attacked in the history of labour unionism has to be in Imo State under Governor Uzodinma and against an Owerri son.
“Apart from the attack being a frontal attack on peaceful industrial relations in Nigeria, it is an indelible stain on the image of Owerri and shows the pedigree and personality of Governor Hope Uzodinma and how he has managed Imo State for more than three years.
“As a people, we want to express our anger at the deadly attack against an Owerri son in Owerri and to express deep disappointment at the reckless manner the governor accepted responsibility for this brutal and brutish attack.
“We call on Governor Hope Uzodinma to issue appropriate apology to Mr Joe Ajaero and Owerri people for this brutal assault on Mr Ajaero and deep disrespect on the Owerri people. We give Governor Uzodinma 48 hours to tender the apologies.
“The Commissioner of Police in Imo State has a responsibility to protect citizens, especially leaders of NLC who are on national assignment in line with the Constitution. There have been several allegations of the Commissioner lending his office to be misused for political vendetta. This is against the Constitution and the Police Act.
“We call on the Inspector General of Police to request the Commissioner of Police in Imo State to identify those officers who committed the assault and battery against the Congress President, particularly Mr Chinasa Nwaneri, SA to Governor Hope Uzodinma, who was identified as the leader of assailants, for prosecution, according to the law.
“This is the only path of justice for the Nigerian police to prove to Nigerian workers and Owerri people that it is not part of the deliberate attack against Ajaero and the Owerri people.
“At the expiration of the deadline for apology, we will call on the Owerri people to henceforth regard Governor Hope Uzodinma as an enemy of Owerri people if he does not apologize to Mr Joe Ajaero and the Owerri people,” the group stated.