Tom Zaneni, Abuja
A federal lawmaker, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, has called on the Nigeria Police Force to withdraw their invitation to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, over allegations of terrorism financing.
Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, advised the police to channel their energy towards fighting insecurity and banditry in various parts of the country instead of wasting such energy where it was not needed.
In a statement on Wednesday, he said the police should drop the allegations so that they do not bring people back to the streets and cause confusion for President Bola Tinubu.
The police authorities had invited Ajaero, accusing him of criminal conspiracy and terrorism financing.
On his part, Ajaero and the NLC had said that he would honour the invitation on August 29.
The NLC and its affiliate unions have issued a threat on Tuesday after an emergency National Executive Council meeting to shut down the nation’s economy if Ajaero is detained.
Ugochinyere, the spokesman for the coalition of the opposition in the House, said there was no substance in the allegations against Ajaero, judging from experience.
He stated that if the police were serious about helping the president, they should tackle the menaces of banditry, oil theft and criminal activities plaguing the country.
The legislator 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 the 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 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 who has been through it, this same police force invited me multiple times and charged me multiple times. Based on my personal experience, I think this invitation should be withdrawn, the country is at a difficult moment now.”
