Ex-NUJ boss attacks Ajimobi over detention of labour leaders

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NIGERIA: THE former National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, has attacked the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, over the detention and arraignment of some union leaders in the state in court.

Ogundipe, who described Ajimobi as an Emperor, appealed to prominent persons in the state to prevail on the Governor to order the release of the unionists.

The ex-NUJ boss while saying his attention was drawn to the arrest said: “I demand immediate release of detained NLC leaders in Oyo State.”

“Therefore, I hereby call on noble and eminent personalities in Oyo State to prevail on Governor Abiola Ajimobi to release forthwith Comrades Waheed Olojede, Oyo NLC Chairman, C.K. Ogundeji (NLC Sec), Sodo (Dep Chair NLC), Kehinde (Civil Service Union Chairperson), Oseni, Mrs. Adegbogu, and Falade who are being detained at Iyaganku Central Police Station in Ibadan,” he said on his Facebook.

Ogundipe stressed: “They were arrested in Ibadan today (last Wednesday) in connection with the NLC/NUT/JAF Mass Protest held yesterday against Governor Ajumobi APC Government Privatisation agenda of Public Schools in the state.

“The tyrannical act deployed by the APC government in the state cannot deter Oyo NLC/NUT/JAF from mobilising Nigerians and the people of Oyo State to rise against unpopular and wicked policy of Ajimobi-led government.”

“Enough is enough, we are tired of these anti-people policies targeted at punishing the working class and the poor people in the state,” Ogundipe said, adding: “I, therefore call for immediate and unconditional release of these Comrades.”

While reacting to some of the comments on the Facebook, the former NUJ national president, who was unhappy

with the attitude of the labour leaders initially, said: “But here, to those of us in the labour movement we can’t fold our arms to watch an Emperor enslaving the entire down trodden people by intimidating NLC leadership and clampdown on them.

“On the subject, anti-human attempt by the Ajimobi-led administration to deny the children of the downtrodden access to public education in Oyo State is it fair? This is a test case to commence the final project of enslaving the Public/Free Education commenced by the social democrat, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, that triggered the entry of Africa’s, and the world largest black population (Nigeria) into contemporary modernity. “

Ogundipe stressed: “For God’s sake, what does the common man stand to benefit from a government if not free education at the primary and secondary school levels.  The State is already in a state of anguish over the unpaid salaries of workers.

“Many civil servants have been turned to sellers and hawkers of sachet water and drivers/riders of Okada.  How would the pupils and the teachers fare under a wicked privatization policy?”

He lamented: “These are pupils whose parents are already victims of battered economy, who could hardly afford the N3, 000 per year levy of the Oyo State Government. This is a programme that demonstrates the highest level of ingratitude to the voters.”

“Sincerely, Ajimobi administration has murdered sleep; he should not expect any sleep anymore,” he emphasised.