The Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the February 25, 2023 election, Peter Obi, has expressed shock over the brutalization of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero by “unknown workers” in Owerri, Imo State in the presence of the Police and other security agents.
Ajaero, who was in Owerri on Wednesday November 1 to mobilize Imo workers for a protest rally over an alleged violation and abuse of the rights and privileges of workers by the State government, was assaulted, arrested by the Police and is now in hospital undergoing treatment after his release from detention.
This is just as human rights activist, Femi Falana, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure that officers who allegedly brutalised the NLC President are arrested and prosecuted.
Falana, who faulted the statement by the Police who stated they only rescued the NLC President and put him in protective custody to prevent further assault on his by the “unknown workers.”
Peter Obi, who commented on the issue on his X (Former Twitter) page, wrote: “What happened to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in Imo state, yesterday has come as a rude shock to most Nigerians. It says a lot about the state of affairs in our country today.
“It shows the level of lawlessness, impunity, criminality, and rascality that have engulfed our dear country. Things like this should worry any discerning mind because it runs counter to the type of country that we all desire and deserve.
“In the New Nigeria of our dreams, abuse of power and the reckless violation of citizens’ rights through acts of impunity will have no place.”
However, Falana said the explanation given by the Police was tainted with loopholes, wondering in the statement he personally signed why the Police failed to arrest the miscreants that brutalised the NLC President in their presence.
According to him: “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.”