Governor Hope Uzodimma has said that Imo State owes a lot of gratitude to the late first civilian Governor of Imo State, Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe, noting that the former Governor made huge sacrifices which the people cannot repay.

Governor Uzodimma spoke at the weekend while being conferred with the Beacon of Hope for Good Governance award by the family of late Chief Mbakwe at the Rockview Hotel Owerri.

The award was conferred on Governor Uzodimma by late Chief Mbakwe’s heir apparent Engr Alex Mbakwe, under the platform of  Chief Sam Mbakwe Leadership  Award 2023.

This is the first time that such an award is being conferred on either a sitting or former Governor of Imo State.

Receiving the award, Governor Uzodimma expressed gratitude to the family of the late sage for the honour and noted that Chief Mbakwe led a sacrificial life for Imo State and the Igbos, and that the love he showed to the people cannot be measured.

He said late Chief Mbakwe was almost living in penury when he left office because he was completely engrossed in the activities that would lead to good of the people.

The Governor said that he is not surprised that many years after the passing of late Chief Mbakwe, he still remains a reference point for everything good to be copied by those in positions of authority who crave for good governance in public service.

He said he will forever cherish the honour done him by the late Chief Mbakwe’s family.

Earlier in his welcome address, son of the former Governor, Eng Alex Mbakwe appreciated all the dignatories who came to grace the occasion and took time to revisit some of the qualities that distinguish his father from his peers.

The Chairman of the event, HRH Eze Oliver Ohanwe, who is also the Pro Chancellor of Ben Uwajimogu College of Education, Ihitte Uboma, said in his remarks that late Chief Mbakwe loved Imo State so much and that there is a nexus between his love for Imo and the love Governor Uzodimma has also shown to the people.

He described the award given to the Governor as fitting and appropriate.

In the same vein, the Imo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. COC Akaolisa, a student of the Faculty of Law, Imo State University which Mbakwe established in 1981, and the former Speaker of Imo State and Secretary General of Imo State Council of Elders, Rt Hon. Maxwell Duru, could not agree less that Governor Uzodimma shares a lot in common with the late Chief Mbakwe.

The award was preceded by a lecture delivered by an accomplished scholar and former Director at National Universities Commission, Prof  Engr. Val Ikechukwu of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

The theme of the lecture is: The Challenge of Leadership in Imo State: Lessons from Sam Mbakwe Model.

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, former INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, former Ambassador, Chief Greg Mbadiwe and other dignitaries graced the occasion.

The former Imo State First Lady, Mrs Victoria Mbakwe, the late former Governor’s widow, though absent was the Chief Host.

The National Industrial Court in Owerri has issued a fresh  interim injunction restraining  the organised Labour from embarking on any kind of strike in Imo state until further notice.

The Court warned against the disobedience of its order, saying that it would attract consequences.

Justice  N C S Ogbuanya gave the order  last Friday after hearing the submissions of  counsels to both parties that they  were yet to reach a settlement on their dispute.

The defendants are Nigeria Labour Congress and the secretary General,  Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja and the Trade Union Congress and its secretary General, Comrade Nuhu Toro.

In the suit No NICN/ OW/41/2023, the Attorney General of Imo State and the Imo State Government  are claimants.

The court held that in considering the motion for interlocutory injunction by the claimants,   after hearing from both counsels, it has reserved November 30,2023 for the ruling.

The court further held thus: ” Considering the court’ s duty to ensure that Labour dispute and related disagreements between the parties are not allowed to escalate and adversely affect the interests and well-being of the citizenry and third parties who are not involved in the Labour dispute already submitted for adjudication  in the pending suit in the court”, it was necessary for the parties to hold the peace till the next adjourned date.

” Parties are hereby  directed to be mindful  of consequences of disobedience of extant court order  in  the pending suit before the court “, it further ordered.

With the order, the current strike action in Imo state by a section of labour ,especially EEDC,is illegal.

The Court adjourned the matter to November, 30,2023  for ruling on the interlocutory injunction filed by the claimants.

By Gideon Njoku

Following the face-off in Owerri between the Organised Labour and the Imo State Police Command which led to the brutalisation of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and some others, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, have issued a six-point demand to the Imo State Government and the Inspector General of Police for peace to reign.

The Organized Labour wants the demands met before November 8, 2023, or it would embark on an indefinite strike action.

Trouble started on November, 1, 2023, when Ajaero and other Labour Leaders stormed Owerri to organise a protest against the State Government over alleged sundry issues, including, none payment of salaries, an allegation, among others, which the State Government strongly denies,  insisting it was not owing salaries to any legal worker. Meaning that only ghost and fraudulent workers would complain.

However, while the Leaders of the NLC were at the State Secretariat, putting finishing touches to the modalities of the protest,  they were pounced upon, allegedly, by the Police. Ajaero, in particular, was badly manhandled, resulting in his being rushed to two hospitals – Police Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre, FMC – over the severe injuries he sustained, especially, in the eye and head areas.

The State Government vehemently denies a hand in Ajaero’s ordeal, and so does the Imo State Police Command which said its men, contrary to reports, neither arrested Ajaero nor detained him. Instead, it claimed in a Press Statement, its men took Ajaero into protective custody, and saved him from being lynched by a mob. The Command did not say who and who made up the mob, or why nobody was arrested on the spot.

The NLC and the TUC insist that both the State Government and the Police Command were responsible for the brutalization of their leaders, and have served a six-point demand on the Imo State Government and the Inspector General of Police. They want positive action taken on their demands or be faced with industrial action with effect from November 8, 2023.

For the records, the Governorship Election in Imo State, like that of Kogi and Bayelsa States, is scheduled for November 11, 2023. Any industrial action, therefore, could affect the Imo election.

Following are the six demands.

■Investigation and deployment out of Imo State the Commissioner of Police Mr. Ahmed Barde for his unprofessional conduct

■Sack of the Area Commander and his men who supervised the beating and brutalisation of the NLC President

■Arrest and prosecution of SA Special Duties in Imo State, Mr. Nwaneri Chinasa

Immediate.

■Independent and thorough medical and professional examination of the NLC president as a result of physical injuries inflicted on him.

■Medical treatment of journalists and other workers who were maltreated and in the course of doing their jobs at the NLC secretariat in Imo State and all properties stolen or damaged be restored.

■ Implementation of all outstanding industrial relations issues previously agreed with the Imo State Government.

The Organized Labour, also, added:

“We further resolved that in the event that the State Government fails to comply with any of the stated demands, NLC, TUC and other affiliate members will no longer guarantee industrial peace in Nigeria, beginning November, 8th, 2023”

By Akinwale Kasali

As the negative effect of the manhandling, in Owerri, of Joe Ajaero, National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, widens, and condemnation slams in like claps of thunder, Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma has accused  Ajaero of  abandoning his job at the NLC,  to meddle into local politics.

This is just as the World Owerri Peoples Congress, WOPC, in a statement it issued, expressed shock at the brutalisation of Ajaero, and called on Uzodinma to thorium investigate the near fatal fate that befell the NLC President.

In same manner, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, condemned in strong language, Ajaero’s brutalisation in Owerri, Imo State, allegedly, by Police Operatives of the Imo State Police Command, and called on President Bola Tinubu, to intervene in the matter.

Speaking for the first time since the incident, Uzodinma  accused Ajaero of not being able to differentiate between  his high profile office as the National President of the NLC, and the local politics in Imo State where he hails from.

The Governor spoke to State House Correspondents, Presidential Villa, after he received the APC Governorship flag against the Governorship Election slated for November 11, 2023, from President Tinubu.

He advised Ajaero to draw a line between his role as a labour leader and a partisan Imo State indigene.

The Governor, also,  accused the NLC leader of trying to blackmail his Government over non-payment of salaries, and insisted that all Imo workers have been paid their due wages.

Uzodimma:  “What has happened in this ugly coincidence is that the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress is from Imo State and has not been able to demarcate the line between being a National leader of an organisation and an interested party in local politics

“I understand the sensitivity of this event (protest). But I want you people to be very careful because there is an attempt to mix up partisan politics or an attempt to blackmail my Government.

“I can tell you that my people are already aware,  that was why the NLC Imo State Chapter addressed a world press conference that what their National leadership is doing is not correct and that they are not going to join any strikes or protests.

“And in the process, they decided to dissolve them to put in a caretaker. Of course, I’m the Chief Security Officer and I have a responsibility to intervene. I encourage the national leadership not to dissolve a management team that their tenure had not expired, and that was what they did.”

He insisted that he does not interfere in labour matters, and  noted: “I have convinced Workers in Imo State to believe in me, and that trust is what opposition parties are trying to fight.”

Uzodimma argued that his administration did not owe workers’ salaries, and said it  is the reason Imo Workers endorsed him.

His words: “No wonder the entire labour congress of Imo State Chapter endorsed me and I’m the only candidate they are supporting in the election. The Nigerian Union of Pensioners also endorsed me.”

IMSG Denies Culpability

In its first official reaction, the Imo State Government washed its hands off Ajaero’s ordeal. The  Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, on Thursday, said that those accusing the state government of having hands in Ajaero’s travails were mischief makers.

He said in a statement l: “Imo State Government has washed its hands clean concerning the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero.”

The Commissioner said he recalled that the strike had been called off and “wondered what Ajaero was doing in Owerri in defiance of the order of the Court, which warned of severe consequences against disobedience.”

NLC Differs

But debunking the the Government’s claim,  Head of Information of the NLC, Benson Upah, said Ajaero was picked up at the State Secretariat of the NLC in Owerri and taken to an unknown location, after which he reappeared hours later, brutalised.

The NLC accused the State Government of masterminding the attack on Ajaero who was badly injured, hospitalised, and may be flown abroad for further treatment.

The Leadership of the NLC vowed to take action against the brutalisation of its National President.

The Union also noted that a decision would be taken following a meeting of all its organs.

Upah stated: “There will be a full and appropriate response. As soon as the organs meet, you will be availed the details.” Already, the Organised Labour has given President Tinubu six actions to take, including the removal of the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, or it would declare a strike action Nationwide as from November 8, 2023.

WOPC Protests, Calls For Investigation

In a statement signed by its President, Nze Ben Azuna, the World Owerri Peoples Congress condemned Ajaero’s brutalisation. It said it is “unacceptable to resort to unprovoked brutality as a means of law enforcement.” It pointed out that “such actions undermine the principles of justice and presumption of innocence”

The statement reads in full:

“The World Owerri People’s  Congress strongly condemns the arrest and brutality meted to NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero.

“We have observed with revulsion and disappointment the growing brutal impunity of violence and political thuggery that has engulfed our beautiful Imo State and Owerri communities in particular.

“Because we believe in the rule of law, due process and the presumption of innocence, we the World Owerri Peoples Congress unequivocally condemn in strongest terms the inhumane treatment, and physical assault on the President of the Nigeria Labor Congress, Comrade Ajero in Owerri, Imo State by a team of law enforcement agents.

“It is unacceptable to resort to unprovoked brutality as a means of law enforcement; such actions undermine the principles of justice and presumption of innocence.

“Owerri people will stand united against any form of illegal arrests and unprovoked brutality on any citizen in Owerri. We call for accountability and justice in this matter. We are calling on Governor Hope Uzodinma to thoroughly investigate and bring those responsible for the extra judicial violent assault on the NLC President Comrade Joe Ajero to justice.

“We seek the Governor’s assurance on the protection of individual rights and freedoms as well as fair law enforcement practices in our homeland going forward.”

Similarly, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics  condemned the attack on Ajaero.

In a statement signed by its National President, Anderson Ezeibe, the Union said it would await directives from the NLC on the steps to take.

The statement partly reads:

“Our Union has been closely monitoring reports from Imo State as it affects the planned protest by the leaderships of the NLC and TUC over the conditions of Imo workers in Imo State.

“It is shocking to read reports of attacks and brutalisation of unarmed workers and the leadership of the NLC to the extent of causing bodily harm to our protesting Comrades who were only expressing their constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of association and expression.”

While demanding “the swift intervention of the President of the country” in the matter, ASUP stated that it was “awaiting further directives from the organs of the NLC on this matter.”