Emmanuel OchayiHope Uzodinma, the Governor of Imo State, expressed his lack of awareness regarding the reported incident involving Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.
Uzodinma, responding to the news in an interview on Politics Today on ChannelsTv on Thursday stated, “This is why I am very surprised because I was in Abuja when this thing happened. The first thing I did was to place a phone call. I asked what has happened and they told me.”
Prime Business Africa reported that Ajaero was beaten after he was arrested in Imo while leading a protest for better salaries in the state. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has declared a total nationwide strike effective next Tuesday, November 14, 2023 over the incident.
READ ALSO: NLC, TUC Orders Immediate Withdrawal Of Services In Imo
The Governor continued, “I was not even aware that the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress came into my state. I condemned the action. It is something of the labour union, it has nothing to do with my government. And if it is the president of the labour union or not, if such a thing happens to any human being, of course, I must apologize because it is in my state.”
Emphasizing his stance against violence, Uzodinma added, “What I can say is that I am a Christian and I believe in God and cannot support violence. Whatever has happened to Joe Ajaero in my state, which I am not aware of being related to him being assaulted, yes, it will be regretted by my person and my government.”
However, the Governor expressed his desire for a more civilized approach to such matters, stating, “I will also like him to do things in a more civilized manner and approach. That a man who is from my state at that level now comes to start entering the street without hearing me out or letting me know the allegations they are laying before me.”
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