The Lamidi Apapa faction of Labour Party (LP) has advised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) not to get involved in the leadership crisis that has engulfed the party in recent weeks.
The faction maintained that the NLC and its affiliate are not an appendage of any individual or group, but an association formed and anchored on the idea of protecting the interest of Nigerians.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Arabambi Abayomi, who is loyal to the Apapa faction, in a statement, yesterday, described invasion of the party’s secretariat by the suspended national chairman, Julius Abure, as a criminal activity.
Specifically, Abayomi called on NLC President, Joe Ajaero, “not to think he is above the law because we will use all judicial powers, as enshrined in the Constitution, to deal with these issues.”
He said: “While it too early in the day to say otherwise about the leadership of NLC because there is a subsisting court order restraining Abure and three others, which, we believe, they are not aware of, we want to remind them that they must, out of good conscience, protect the sanctity of the union at all cost and try as much to avoid action that will cause damage to the reputation of the union.
“They are aware that an FCT High Court, today, April 17, 2023, sustained the restraining order against Julius Abure and three others, until determination of the motion on notice, but went ahead to publicly fraternise with Abure, who had earlier forced his way into the secretariat against a court order.
“It is pertinent, at this juncture, to remind Ajaero that he is not above the law and should note that he was once a bitter loser, some years ago, to the immediate past NLC president when he, Ajaero, formed the United Labour Congress (ULC). Thus Labour Party is not an avenue to display such childish rascality he is known for, and we cannot be threatened by him.”
Abayomi said: “We would make sure we pursue this case to a logical conclusion on Abure and three others – forgery, perjury and impersonation, and fraudulent activities. The security agencies can now see the kind of negative characters that want to take over power in Nigeria.
“The United States of America, the British government and other European allies will be notified of this criminal infraction deliberately orchestrated by Abure, under the cover of NLC leadership, who is now hobnobbing with criminal elements in LP that not only the police have found guilty but the court also has confirmed they forged documents.
“Let it be known that Labour Party’s secretariat cannot be used by criminal elements to force change of power in Nigeria as we are law-abiding citizens.”
He added: “Finally, we dare the NLC leadership to carry out its threat of invading the court on the next adjournment date, at least, to show that it has power over and above the Constitution.
NLC, as a body for workers, cannot be used by any person for pecuniary gains.
“What happened at the LP national secretariat, today, should not have (happened) if the leadership of the union had the interest of the party and the nation at heart.”
