Ajaero Arrest: Tinubu Trying To Silent Opposition

Global rights body Amnesty International has condemned the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for trying to stifle the opposition in the country.

The righst group made the allegation on Monday in reaction to the arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC by security services.

The magazine reported that the NLC President was arrest yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the DSS on his was to attend a Labour programme in the United Kingdom, UK.

Ajaero has since been handed over to the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, The Source Magazine also reported, amidst global criticism of the government’s action.

Reacting to the arrest AI in a statement signed by its country Director, Isa Sanusi, said the administration is setting a bad precedence, nothing that the Tinubu’s administration has a sad trajectory of intimidating dissenting voices in the country.

The rights body demands the immediate and unconditional release of the Labour leader, saying the crack down on those opposing the government has increased since this government came on board last year.

Warning  that the administration is treading a dangrous path, AI said it “has observed, in the last one year, the increasing crackdown by the Nigerian authorities on the labour union and civic space.”

AI said, “Amnesty International strongly condemns the unlawful arrest of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero by the Department of State Services (DSS) today. The labour union leader must be immediately and unconditionally released.

“The arbitrary arrest of Joe Ajaero shows an escalating crackdown on human rights and restrictions on civic space by the government of President Bola Tinubu.

“President Bola Tinubu’s government persistently attacks and undermines the operations of the NLC, through fabricated allegations, raids on NLC headquarters and other forms of harassment and intimidation. This growing culture of impunity and disdain for workers’ rights to organize and seek better welfare must stop.

“President Tinubu is setting a new record of utter disregard for the rule of law.

“Amnesty International has observed, in the last one year, the increasing crackdown by the Nigerian authorities on the labour union and civic space. The authorities continue to weaponize the police and SSS to repress the human rights of Nigerians.

“Nigeria is a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, including trade union membership and activities. The country is also a member of the International Labour Organization, whose fundamental principles include the right to organize, are binding on all members.”

“Under international human rights law workers cannot be targeted for participating in trade union activities. The Nigerian authorities have an obligation not only to respect the rights of workers but also to protect these rights from abuse.

“Joe Ajaero is arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights and must be immediately and unconditionally released,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the NLC is bracing up for a showdown with the government following its directive to its members to embark on an indefinite strike if Ajaero is not immediately released.