‘Ugly incident’ — Owerri group asks Uzodinma to apologise to NLC president

A group known as Dozie-Mezie Owerri Association has given Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo state, a 48-hour ultimatum to apologise to Joe Ajaero, national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

On Wednesday, Ajaero was reportedly picked up from the Imo council secretariat of the NLC in Owerri by heavily armed police officers.

The NLC said Ajaero was beaten and blindfolded immediately after he was arrested by security operatives.

However, the Imo police command said Ajaero was not arrested but was taken into protective custody to avoid being lynched by a mob.

The NLC said it would go on strike from November 8 to protest the assault on Ajaero.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, Henry Chidi Opara, president of the Owerri group, described the attack on Ajaero as an “ugly incident”.

Opara said democracy requires tolerance and respect for the fundamental rights of the people.

“We give Governor Uzodinma 48 hours to tender the apologies,” he said.

“The Commissioner of Police in Imo State has a responsibility to protect citizens, especially leaders of NLC who are on national assignment in line with the Constitution.

“There have been several allegations of the Commissioner lending his office to be misused for political vendetta. This is against the Constitution and the Police Act.

“We call on the inspector-general of police to request the commissioner of police in Imo state to identify those officers who committed the assault and battery against the Congress President, particularly Mr. Chinasa Nwaneri, SA to Governor Hope Uzodinma, who was identified as the leader of assailants, for prosecution according to the law.

“We want to give public notice that if after 48 hours of this press conference governor Uzodinma has not tendered the public apology, we will view it as a deliberate affront to Owerri people and clear demonstration of bad faith to Owerri people.”