Victor Ezeja
United Action Front of Civil Society, the organised Platform of Nigerian Civil Society Platforms and Leaders has called for a thorough investigation into the cause of fire that destroyed the home of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajero, in Lagos last week.
Ajero’s residence was said to have been burnt down after a strange noise was heard from the roof, which was mistaken for foraging domestic animals.
The fire reportedly exploded in a ball of fire as members of his family scampered to safety with nothing salvaged from the building.
It was learnt that at the time of the incident, Ajaero was away in Geneva, Switzerland, where he led the country’s labour delegation to the summit of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Ajaero-led NLC had called for a nationwide strike following the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.
However, the strike was suspended after intervention and negotiations by the Federal Government.
In a statement signed by Okunniyi, Head, National Coordinating Centre, United Action Front of Civil Society, the CSO coalition said it was “taken aback by the weirdness of the fire incident which left residents of the immediate community of the NLC President with no likely chance of intervention.”
The group condemned the delay in launching full-scale probe into the fire accident, many days after it occurred.
It said the “ugly incident raises more questions than answers.
“The organised civil society is therefore extremely disturbed by the incident whose cause was yet to be unravelled more than a week after. While we are cautious in pointing accusing fingers at the direction of elements antagonistic to the posture of the leadership of the Nigerian workers and masses, particularly in the wake of the recent call for a national strike by Ajaero-led NLC over the wrongheaded and unjustifiable fuel price hike by the Tinubu regime, we are however compelled to attribute the incident to conspiracy and orchestrated foul play.
“To this end, the organised platforms of the Nigerian civil society decries the delay and apparent lack of will from relevant authorities to investigate the incident as it is the conviction of the leaders of the Nigerian civil society that relevant agencies charged with the mandate and responsibility of protection and security of lives and properties should be able to unravel the incident as those charged with the mandate of dealing with breach of safety and perpetration of criminality cannot assume the posture of onlookers in a matter that bother on our collective apprehension as a people over the safety of our homes and lives.
“The fact that the NLC President is the victim of this strange fire incident further compels our worry that the country may yet be on the verge of sponsored hitmen reminiscent of the military era. The United Action Front of Civil Society therefore has no hesitation to hold the Nigerian state and government accountable for the fire incident at the residence of the NLC President until the burden of investigation and full disclosure of the circumstances surrounding the occurrence is established.”
The group further demanded that adequate security should be provided for Comrade Ajaero and his family as well as for leaders of organised labour and civil society platforms.
“Finally, we wish to demand the institution of a thorough independent Probe of the incident as a way of reassuring Nigerians, especially leaders of organised platforms of labour and civil society, of their safety and security, while discharging their civic duties and responsibilities in keeping the State and Government awake to their constitutional responsibilities to the Citizens and People of Nigeria,” the statement added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
