Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has broken his silence regarding the brutalization of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
The incident had raised allegations that the governor may have been involved in orchestrating the assault.
Governor Uzodinma, in response to the situation, asserted that certain individuals and groups are attempting to blackmail his government in the lead-up to the November 11 governorship election in the state.
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The governor made these statements at the Presidential Villa following a ceremony where President Bola Tinubu presented flags to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidates for Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi, in preparation for the upcoming elections.
The incident in question involved a protest staged by members of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Owerri, which led to the brutalization of Joe Ajaero, the union’s President.
Ajaero claimed that security operatives tortured him after the protest was hijacked by miscreants. The workers were demonstrating against unpaid salaries.
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Governor Uzodinma countered these claims by insisting that state workers have been paid their salaries consistently. He challenged any Imo State civil servant to come forward and state if they have not received their salaries since January 15, 2020.
Regarding Joe Ajaero, Uzodinma emphasized that Ajaero has faced challenges in distinguishing between his role as the national president of the labor union and his involvement as an interested party in the local politics of Imo State.
The governor cautioned against mixing partisan politics with attempts to discredit his government, asserting that there is an ongoing effort to do so.
As this situation unfolds, it remains a topic of interest and scrutiny in the political landscape of Imo State.
