The Labour Party has called for the immediate removal of the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Stephen Olarewaju, over his alleged involvement in the attack on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in a statement on Saturday, said the police boss had disobeyed a directive from the Police Service Commission to be redeployed from the state.
Ifoh described the attack on Ajaero as “done in bad faith” and “unmistakable evidence that someone is clearly blowing the trumpet they are dancing”.
The party also aligned with the NLC and TUC in demanding the removal of the Area Commander and other police officers involved in the attack.
“The Labour Party had a few months ago petitioned the Chairman Police Service Commission on the continued stay in office and discharge of duties of the present Commissioner of Police in Imo state who once held sway of the Adamawa State Police Command. Even against the directive of the Commission that the CP be redeployed immediately, he has blatantly disregarded the order,” Ifoh said.
The party called on the Police hierarchy to immediately rejig the entire police structure in Imo State.
“We are using this medium to call on the Police hierarchy to immediately rejig the entire police structure in Imo state. Their role in the attack on Labour Union leaders was done in bad faith and unmistakable evidence that someone is clearly blowing the trumpet they are dancing,” Ifoh added.
Recall that Ajaero, who was in Owerri on Wednesday for a union protest over unpaid salaries in Imo State, was allegedly kidnapped by the police and brutalised.
Reacting, the leadership of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, on Friday, issued a 5-day ultimatum to the federal government to remove the police boss over his alleged involvement in the attack.
