The Labour Party under the leadership of the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee has condemned the picketing of its secretariat by Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) describing as the unlawful break and entry into its national headquarters by what it tagged “the militant arm of the Nigeria Labour Congress.”
According to the party, the NLC raid led to the colossal destruction of party property describing the act as a criminal misplacement of priority and an action done in bad fate.
Reacting to the picketing of the party headquarters on Wednesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, said the party was appalled by the desperation exhibited by the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
Ifoh said, “The party notes that the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero’s greed and inordinate ambition have pushed him into losing every sense of discretion and decency in his recent conducts, be it in his affairs with the workers or even the government.
“As a party, we wonder how Ajaero would lead a band of lawless persons who are known to have partisan interests in other major political parties such as the PDP and APC against a recognised independent political party.
“Ajaero’s continuous claim that the NLC owns the Labour Party is not in any way supported by either the Electoral Act or the Constitution.
“For his information, a political party is owned by those who are card-carrying or financial members of the party.
“We are aware that more than 90 per cent of the members of the NLC have not met this condition and therefore cannot claim to be the owners of the party.
“The constitution also provides that no organisation can own any other organisation. The NLC, as an organisation, cannot therefore claim ownership of the Labour Party.
“Today, Nigeria is witnessing the worst economic strangulation ever in the history of Nigeria.
“Issues such as poor workers’ wages, high inflation, and insecurity with Nigeria turning to a hobbesian state, yet after a year of his assumption of office, Ajaero has chosen to ignore all these national challenges.
“It would interest you to know that Ajaero’s NLC is yet to successfully picket any Federal Government establishment.
“His attempt to extend his rascality to Imo State was met with a higher and brutal force. Unfortunately for us in the Labour Party, we do not command any force, unlike the NLC, which is now encouraging militancy within its ranks.
“By its own constitution, the NLC cannot even call for a picketing of any establishment without a directive of its NEC, but what we saw was a political committee acting out an illegal script by Ajaero.
“The committee has no legal right to call an action in the nature of picketing or breaking and entering into a political party where most of them are not even members.
“The present NLC leadership is politicized. It has left its primary responsibilities of defending Nigerian workers and has delved deeply into partisan politics, and this is a bad omen for the working community.
“We have earlier advised Ajaero to emulate leadership of Ayuba Waba, Olaleye Quadri, and Festus Osifo, who had or currently passing through a similar route, and still maintain a working relationship with the party.
“We are, however, reviewing today’s criminal actions and disruption of activities in our national headquarters with our legal department for further action.
“What we saw today appears to be a personal vendetta against the national chairman, Julius Abure, whom they called several unprintable names, including labeling him a thief. We are certainly going to take legal action on matters of libel.”
Earlier on Wednesday, workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, picketed the headquarters of the Labour Party, LP, insisting that the party’s national Chairman, Julius Abure, should resign and go.
The NLC also said that it would insist that workers take over their party expected to act as a viable opposition to guard against the country plunging into dictatorship.
