Arabambi alleges plot by Ajaero to spark civil unrest

• CDWR flays attack on NLC president, #EndBadGovernance protesters
• CISLAC warns police against skewed investigation

Abayomi Arabambi has alleged a potential security threat by the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and his National Transition Committee (NTC).

Relatedly, the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has condemned the invasion of NLC headquarters and the invitation of Ajaero to answer trumped-up criminal allegations (criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime) by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

However, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has warned the police to ensure that the investigation for which Ajaero was invited is open and transparent.

In an open letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Arabambi, who claimed to be Labour Party (LP)’s National Publicity Secretary, accused Ajaero’s group of planning to forcefully take over the LP and use it as a tool for a violent political insurrection.

According to him, the plan could lead to civil and ethnic war in Nigeria; hence, he urged the IGP to take decisive action to protect the country’s democracy.

Dragging erudite lawyer, Femi Falana, into the fray, Arabambi explained in the letter that LP had previously raised concerns about Ajaero’s activities on August 13, 2024, accusing him of turning the NLC/NTC into a security threat to Nigeria’s existence.

The letter reads, “I am writing to you today as a concerned citizen of Nigeria and as the National Publicity Secretary of LP. I am compelled to bring to your attention a pressing matter that threatens the unity and stability of our country.

“On August 13, 2024, our party raised concerns about Ajaero and his NLC/NTC posing a security threat to Nigeria’s existence. They are planning to forcefully take over LP through unconstitutional means, aided by Femi Falana (SAN), in contravention of trade union and miscellaneous acts.”
CDWR also condemned the detention of #EndBadGovernance protesters and called for their release.

The rights group decried that activists, Michael Adaramoye (Lenin) and Mosiu Sodiq, who were abducted by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on Monday, August 5, 2024, over the #EndBadGovernance protest, had been incarcerated without trial for over two weeks now.

It said: “These attacks are clear warnings to the leadership of NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other pro-people organisations to commence the process of organising resistance to this ever-increasing and dangerous tyranny.  It is a grave error for the leadership of NLC and TUC to allow the Bola Tinubu-led government to implement devastating economic policies and only resort to bargaining for improved minimum wage, a welcome act but not enough to mitigate the consequences of anti-poor policies. Aside from that, many state governments will not pay unless compelled to do so through mass struggle, the little gains of the N70,000 poverty wage will be neutralised soon by the rising cost of living.”

The group, therefore, demanded an end to the harassment and attacks on the trade union leadership, including the NLC president.
EXECUTIVE Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, noted that linking the NLC to terrorism financing was more of a misplaced priority.

Rafsanjani urged the police not to allow itself to be used by politicians to score cheap political points.

He said, “We are shocked and concerned by the ongoing attempts to incriminate, silence and blackmail the leadership of NLC for its efforts to champion the rights and well-being of Nigerian workers.

“CISLAC recalls that on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, the NLC complex, popularly known as Labour House, was suddenly besieged by heavily armed security personnel. This invasion occurred just hours after the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, where members condemned the heavy-handed tactics employed by security agents during the #EndBadGovernance protests.”