NLC President’s Brutalization: Aviation Unions Collaborate To “Black Out” Imo From Aviation Map
Aviation Unions in Nigeria under the auspices of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots & Engineers (NAAPE) say they are ready to “black out” Imo State from Nigeria’s aviation map in reaction to the recent brutalization of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero.
A statement jointly signed by Comrade Ocheme Aba, NUATE’s Principal Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Frances Akinjole, General Secretary, ATSSSAN, Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu, Secretary General, ANAP and Comrade Umoh Ofonime, Deputy General Secretary, NAAPE reads: “we state unequivocally that we stand ready to act as may be directed by NLC to black out Imo State from the aviation map, and take further actions against the person of Hope Uzodimma as we deem fit, until the needful is done.”
The statement says “Wednesday November 1, 2023 will go down as one of the darkest spots on Nigeria’s democratic credentials. On that date, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, was beaten and brutalized by the goons of the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, in the form of official thugs. While Comrade Ajaero was being beaten up, officers of the Nigerian Police Force, paid by taxes from workers, did nothing to protect him. Instead, after supporting the thugs in their barbaric act against Comrade Ajaero, the Police abducted him to a hidden location and further manhandled him.
It is most unfortunate that this story of sheer barbarism actually happened in 21stCentury Nigeria. No one thought that a Governor could descend to such abysmal level of disgrace to utilize such crude means of striking back at a perceived enemy. And no one thought that the Nigerian Police Force could be such a coercive tool in the hands of a government official against the very people they are supposed to protect. This is more perplexing considering the efforts of the current Inspector General of Police a new face of civility.
In all of this, the only crime of comrade Ajaero is acting out his statutory role of fighting for the right of Imo State workers as the President of NLC, in implementing the decision of the National Executive Council of the Congress.
Clearly, by the above narrative, the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma has overreached himself. Uzodimma has murdered sleep, and he shall sleep no more.
Accordingly, we, the above name aviation unions stand together in total condemnation of the actions of Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, as well as the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command.”
The unions further state that “By this release, all aviation workers are hereby placed on red alert; to stand ready for action against Hope Uzodimma as will soon be directed.”
