The governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in Imo State for the November 11 governorship election, Sen. Athan Achonu, has condemned the arrest and brutalization of Comrade Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, by thugs allegedly led by state government agents and operatives of the Imo State Police Command.
Reacting to the development, the opposition party cried out and called on President Bola Tinubu to look into the state of affairs in Imo State.
Achonu spoke in a statement signed by Calistus Ihejiagwa, Chairman of the LP in Imo State.
DAILY POST had earlier reported that Ajaero was whisked away and later released by the Police in Owerri, Imo State capital, on Wednesday.
Reacting, Achonu said, “The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the country and supersedes every other law and pronouncement, said Nigeria is a democracy and every citizen is guaranteed his fundamental human rights of movement, association, and expression as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“Presently Imo State under Hope Uzodinma we are witnessing gross violations of the Constitution with regards to those inalienable fundamental human rights.
“We believe that President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police can see the depravity going on in Imo State and dissociate their good offices from the evil being perpetrated by Hope Uzodinma and the pliant security operatives who are willing to join his army of brigandage and suppression of the people.
“Once again, we cry out and call on President Bola Tinubu to look into the state of affairs in Imo. He should urgently pay attention to what is happening in the state and cause a quick change of guards in the security architecture to ensure that the will of the people is not subverted by one emperor.
“We also boldly say that the forthcoming election must be different from the rest. Imolites are determined not to allow election riggers to subvert their will again. They must come out en masse to vote without fear of intimidation and the votes must count.
“If Uzodinma feels he has done well beyond the propaganda, let him face his opponents in a fair contest instead of plotting to destabilize the state by muzzling opposition.
“We urge the international community, the human rights community, civil society groups, and election observers to take note.
“We also plead with the Nigerian government to stop Governor Uzodinma from allowing his desperation for re-election to set the state ablaze beyond the current carnage it has witnessed under his rudderless administration so that the November 11 governorship election and transition to a new government is done in peace.”
