The Labour Party (LP) leadership has described the Nigeria Labour Congress’ (NLC) invasion of its national secretariat as “a criminal act, a misplacement of priority, and an action done in bad fate.”
In a statement issued by the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party wondered how NLC national chairman Joe Ajaero, ”would lead a band of lawless persons against a recognized independent political party.”
Part of the statement read: ”Ajaero’s continuous claim that 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 can therefore not claim the 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 that is now encouraging militancy within its ranks.
”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 are however reviewing today’s criminal actions and disruption of activities in our national headquarters with our legal department for further actions.
”What we saw today appears to be a personal vendetta against the national chairman, Julius Abure, who they called several unprintable names, including labelling him a thief. We are certainly going to take legal action on matters of libel.”
