*says they are enemies of Nigerian workers
By Michael Oche
A group, Workers for Liberty International (WLI) has said that it is aware of a plot by some persons to stifle and muzzle the various platforms of workers as a credible voices for the working class and the oppressed masses of the country.
Ahmed Shaibu, Deputy Convener of the group in a statement made available to journalists, alleged that recent media attacks on the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero are the handiwork of those he described as “enemies of Nigeria, its workers and people”
“We know those who are behind them and those who are their major sponsors whose interests are diametrically opposed to the interests and well being of Nigerians. Their motives are not hidden especially to the discerning mind but for those who may not have the time to have studied these groups and individuals, they may easily be misled,” he said
He however vowed that the group will support the NLC/TUC and their leadership in their quest to make Nigeria better by making sure that the rights and privileges of workers are protected.
Shaibu noted further that “Their latest gambit is to seek to isolate and demonise the new leadership of the NLC in order to cow and subjugate the persons of these individuals and instill fear in them pursuant to dissuading them from taking the trajectory of liberating Nigerians and Nigerian workers from the clutches of the wickedness that has taken hold of our socio-political framework.”
He explained that those behind the campaign against the leadership of the NLC should have known quickly that the NLC) and TUC and other Unions are not run by one person but by strong Organs who come together regularly to take decisions concerning issues that pertain to the well being of Nigerians and Nigerian workers.
“No one man or woman can therefore take decisions on behalf of the Congresses. That is why it is laughable for anybody to think that either the President of NLC or TUC would decide on the path Nigerian workers will toe at every given point in time,” he said.
According to him, the trade union movement is blind to ethnicity and this is historical.
Shaibu hailed the leadership of NLC and TUC for the wonderful and timely intervention in the CBN induced Cash crunch which eventually led to freeing Nigerians from that crisis.
He said, “The decision to engage the Government of Imo state as we found out over its persistent use of violence as a tool for resolving industrial relations issues in the state and the defilement of workers May Day celebration by using thugs who unleashed violence was also a product of an emergency Joint CWC meeting of both the NLC and TUC that had the President of TUC, comrade Festus Osifo presiding. As we read in the Dailies, that action has successfully been concluded and sanity and reasonable dialogue restored in Imo state.
“It should be noted that Imo State is the home state of the NLC president. Airpeace as a business entity that showed gross insensitivity to the plight of Imo workers by its failed attempt at sabotaging the strike called to liberate the workers of Imo state is owned by an Igbo man the same nationality with the President of the NLC. He was never bothered about the primordial affinity with Imo or Airpeace to join others in taking the right and appropriate actions against them but was driven by the passion to save Nigerian workers who are in the grips of powerful forces of impoverishment and emasculation.”
He said “Nobody should therefore be deceived about those who are scared of Joe Ajaero especially his commitment to justice, equity and fair play not just for Nigerian workers but also the masses. The enemies of Nigeria, its workers and people especially those who belong to the groups below are those deeply afraid of him:
“those who entered political offices through the backdoor; those who have refused to pay Workers salaries and treat Pensioners as subhuman; those who exploit workers in their various workplaces; those who have made sane and reasonable conversations in their state impossible.”
He also said others who are afraid include “those who deploy violence to intimidate and harass both workers and citizens in their state; those Who have decimated Imo youths and are now using Arewa youths, those who are charging former governors in their states and their Deputies with phantom crimes and those Who have not been able to explain the numerous killings and assassinations in Imo state including that of Gulak!”
