Alleged Treason: Withdraw Invitation To NLC President, Lawmaker Tells Police

A member of the House of Representatives, representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has called on the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to channel its energy on curbing the worsening insecurity in the country rather than inviting the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, on what he called baseless and unfounded claim that the latter was involved in terrorism financing.

The Police had on Monday extended an invitation to Ajaero over a case of alleged criminal conspiracy and terrorism financing. The invitation has generated outrage from the citizens with the apex labour body threatening to embark on a nationwide strike and protests if the NLC President is arrested.

Reacting to the development, Hon. Ugochinyere who’s the spokesperson of opposition coalition Lawmakers stated that the it’s clear to everyone that the NLC President didn’t commit any terrorism or murder, saying that any move by the police to detain him might lead to citizens coming back to the streets to protest.

Speaking from personal experiences in the past, the lawmaker, who’s also the chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources Downstream, recalled that he had been through such situations in the hands of the security agencies.

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Calling for the invitation to Ajaero to be withdrawn, Ugochinyere urged the police to focus on tackling insecurity in various parts of the country.

He said, “Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC President didn’t commit any terrorism or murder challenge, drop it, so you don’t bring people back on the street and create confusion for the President. If you want to help President Tinubu go and chase out these bandits in the forest. Find out why crude oil is still being stolen. You don’t help the President by inviting NLC President and accusing him of murder and treason. Stop it!!!!! The President needs help, there’s insecurity, that’s why there’s economic hardship, that’s why food products are high. That’s the real terror that you need to deal with not Comrade Ajaero.

“I have to advise the Nigerian police, there’s no basis for this now, what Nigerians need now is more enhanced security, more involvement of security agencies in quelling security challenges across all parts of the country instead of inviting the President of Nigerian Labour Congress for a chat over his involvement in terrorism. These are old strategies that people can decode, from someone that has been through it, this same police force invited me multiple times and charge me multiple times. Based on my personal experience, I think this invitation should be withdrawn, the country is at a difficult moment now.

“I know Comrade Ajaero and I know he’s not involved in any terrorism. We are trying to find a way to maintain stability and navigate these economic challenges, the Nigerian police should Channel their energy on oil production, what the oil thieves are doing etc. they should focus on wiping out the bandits and criminal elements. I’m urging the Inspector General of Police, don’t let your era be known with what you use to have, don’t get involved in that. The biggest thing I know you can do for the President that I know you love is to find a way to energize the police force to go after all these criminal elements in different parts of the country.”