NLC to DSS: Stop blackmailing us
Nigerian Labour Congress’ president Joe Ajaero has responded to the Department of State Security, which had warned against the union’s planned protest.
TheCornet had reported the DSS warning that the mischief makers might mimick genuine protesters to carry out their sinister plots.
However, Ajaero disagreed. He said, “We are concerned by the unsolicited advice of the DSS to shelve our planned protest against the unprecedented high cost of living in spite of the indescribable suffering in the land, spiraling inflation, deepening poverty and the naira at an exchange rate of N1,900 to a dollar.
“According to the Service, the planned protest should be shelved ‘in the interest of peace and public order,’ pre-supposing that the action is intended to be violent and disruptive even when we have a history of peaceful protests.
More worrying is the new role the service has assigned to itself, the chief spokesperson of the government.
“According to the Service, ‘It is common knowledge that all levels of government are striving to ameliorate the prevailing economic condition and as such, should be given a benefit of the doubt…’
“We are equally worried that although the Service is ‘aware that some elements are planning to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and by extension, widespread violence,’ it has not executed the arrest of these elements.
“Having said this, we would not have ourselves blackmailed or lied against by the Service.
“Our protest is a peaceful one against the unpardonable cost of living of which the unserviced personnel of the Service are also victims.
“We cannot fold our hands and pretend all is well. That will be a grievous conspiracy that history will not forgive.”
By Babatunde Ibrahim
