By Cross Udo, Abuja
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, yesterday, after answering a Police invitation over his alleged terrorism financing, among other things, declared that the labour movement is worth dying for.
The highly elated NLC President also said he would not be distracted in his quest to ensure that workers’ welfare was paramount.
This is because one of the lawyers who followed him to the Police for interrogation, Maxwell Opara, has said that the NLC will not relent, as the Police may make another allegation.
Before the NLC President, alongside lawyers representing the Congress led by the human rights activist Chief Femi Falana, SAN, in the company of Maxwell Opara, Deji Adeyanju, and others, went to honour the invitation, Chief Falana told different unions that assembled at the Labour House in solidarity with the Comrade President to stay back, assuring them that there was no cause for alarm.
Recall that Ajaero, who was invited by the Police to address allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony, arrived at the IRT office at 10:17am and left shortly after 11:15am.
*Says he will continue to fight for workers’ welfare, won’t be distracted
Speaking to journalists at the Labour House after leaving the police headquarters, Ajaero asserted that the NLC remained committed to defending the rights of Nigerian workers and would not be cowed by any form of intimidation.
The labour leader, who sang solidarity songs before the crowd, said, “Comrades, I want to thank everyone. Thank all Comrades in the states and in various states’ Commands that are praying. Those who have been fasting for four days can break their fast now.
“Comrades, the labour movement is worth dying for because of its patriotism and commitment. The labour movement is one of the most prominent pan-Nigerian organisations, and our patriotism from the days of the colonial government to even the period of the military is unshakable.
“We are more patriotic than any other institution in this country, and we will continue to be that.
“We have gone there and are back, and I just want to confirm to you that I have gone there and am back here as a citizen. You can’t do this job we are doing without this type of hazard; it is expected.
“This is the highlight of the job. Even at the unit level, some of us experience this. As far back as 1997 and 1998, I told Falana that we were equally together in the cell, enjoying ourselves during the time of Abacha.
“Comrades, what is essential is the circumstances that took us to that place, but whatever the case, we are out to continue the struggle. We are out. We have gotten minimum wage, but it has yet to be implemented, so we must press for it as soon as possible.
“We will be involved in every other thing that will make the welfare of the Nigerian worker worthwhile; we will not listen to any distraction.
“On behalf of the NLC, NAC, NEC, and CWC and the level of solidarity they showed here, I want to thank everyone. I didn’t know that you loved me like this.
“So may the Almighty God continue to multiply you, tell everybody, and tell Nigerians from all walks of life we are committed to their welfare?”
Also speaking, Maxwell Opara, one of the lawyers who accompanied the NLC President to the Police, said, “There is no cause for alarm; what we had was quite different from what was contained in the letter.
“But whatever is the case, now that they have learnt their lessons and corrected themselves, we have taken it in that manner.
“They said they wanted to ask the NLC President one or two questions about the tenant there. He just narrated what he knew about it, and that is it.
“So that does not mean that we are going to relent, because we don’t know what will come out next, so we are supposed to get ourselves prepared, and we are also using this medium to call them to either release the minors that were arrested during the protest and all those in their detention or take them to court.”
