Ngige: in the eye of the storm |
First he drew the ire of the public when he lambasted doctors
that they could move abroad in droves because they were a surplus in Nigeria.
And just as the heat of his condemnation over that unfortunate statement was
on-going, Ngige rowed blindly across another stormy river!
Today, Abuja based lawyer Dr. Kayode Ajulo has called
for Ngige the Labour and Employment Minister, to be prosecuted by the police and
relieved of his ministerial duties forthwith by the President Mohammadu Buhari.
The protest that later turned bloody in Abuja |
In a well-spread press release, Ajulo noted that “the
event of Wednesday May 8, 2019 in Abuja which gave way for the humiliation of
Labour leaders was undoubtedly a National embarrassment which has grossly put
Nigeria in bad light.
“Frankly, it is within the rights of members of Nigeria
Labour Congress (NLC) to protest against the Minister for Labour and
Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige on his failure to inaugurate the board of National
Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) with Comrade (Chief) Frank Kokori as the
Chairman, and for the Minister in reference to disrupt the protest by his armed
thugs in Abuja out-rightly showed how low our public servants could go.”
Ajulo noted that, the defenseless workers were shot at,
while some of them who sustained injuries were taken to the National Hospital
in Abuja for treatment.
AJULO: Says, prosecute Ngige now! |
“It is not new anywhere in the world that workers are
known for picketing, which is a form of protest in which they congregate to
draw public attention to a cause. From all indications, the Abuja protesters
were non-violent, with the sole aim to put pressure on the Minister to make
Chief Kokori as the NSITF Chairman and in this instance, no law was violated,”
Ajulo noted.
Still in condemnation of the act of the Labour and Employment
Minister, Ajulo observed that, “with my practice in law for almost two decades
I can conveniently say that Nigeria and her people are governed by laws one of
which does not condone assault or banditry. It is worrisome to see a former
Governor of a State, former Senator and a serving Federal Minister to influence
some youths to cause bodily harm on some high profile protesters like the
President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, President of NUPENG, Comrade Williams
Akporeha, others, who are guided by law.
“The act on Wednesday was utterly barbaric, callous and
inhuman; where maximum force and live bullets were used on workers. Meanwhile
workers went with bare hands!
Ajulo appealed to passionately to the Inspector General
of Police to immediately cause investigation to the act of the Minister of
Labour and Employment on this heinous crime against civil population. He also
insisted that there is also a need for President Muhammadu Buhari to relieve
him of his job as a cabinet member for desecrating the good image of his
government through this unfortunate conduct.
“For the affected workers especially NUPENG, I urge
them to embark on nationwide industrial action in order to strike a warning in
order to avert repeat of such in future. They must also bear in mind that if
they allow this open assault to pass, it may just be the end of picketing in
this country, a situation where the labour movement will no longer have rights
to protect their interest or call the government to order when necessary.
“Showing solidarity to Chief Kokori, a man that parades
sterling credentials is a good step in the right direction. He should be
remembered and celebrated at a time like this because of his role in the
struggle for democracy that we all enjoy today, which made the International
Labour Organisation (ILO), Amnesty International (AI) and labour federations
across the globe declare him prisoner of conscience between August 1994 and
June 1998. Kokori was in solitary confinement for four consecutive years in the
infamous Bama Prison. He was just dumped there with no charges preferred
against him by the evil regime of Gen. Sani Abacha. Kokori has a lot to offer
Nigeria and he should be given all the support to serve this country,” Ajulo
added.
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