By GOC NWADIKE
The non-refferal side of the entire episode is the lack of appreciation of the Nigerian Police in Imo state for its quickest intervention in saving the life of our kinsman, COMRD JOE AJAERO on the day he was attacked by his angry brothers among Imo youths.
Let's not fall for the hypings by desperate politicians and losing opposition parties' candidates hoping to attract few votes next week through propaganda, blackmails and lies against the government of Sen. Hope Uzodinma.
Just like AJAERO himself rightly stated, God must have created him differently to have kept him alive from his angry kinsmen, even though he did not appreciate the same people (Police) who quickly intervened and took him on a "Protective Custody"
Truth us that Imo Youths are angry. Damned too angry. Imo workers who are unhappy with a National Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), who has veered off the road, and showing incompetency, daftness and incapable of managing affairs of Labour at the national level where he was elected, but rushes down to home state every now and then, to cause them pains.
Imo youths are angry that their own brother whom they relied upon to rescue the country from the arbitrary increases in fuel pump which is today about N800 per litre, and other sufferings in the country following the removal of fuel subsidy without counter effect measure, betrayed them, got compromised and have been looking the other way while Nigerians suffer.
Imo youths are disappointed that a president of the Nigeria Labour Congress whom they celebrated his election, believing that another Adams Oshiomhole would be coming from their state, has rather become the proverbial greedy man with the huge elephant as a spoil on the head, yet struggling to catch an ordinary rat under his foot.
For almost six months since the economic crises arising from the removal of fuel subsidy in the country started, Mr. Joe Ajaero; our own very brother, who could have made a big name for himself by being the Messiah Nigerians desired, could not pull out a single deal for his Labour community in the country. Joe AJAERO couldn't even lead a single protest, let alone, command a strike in opposition to the mirage of economic crises today affecting the Nigeria workers.
Joe Ajaero till date, has not been able to utilize his high and commanding status to attract a single change in the national system, except his regular stage managed appearances on Arise TV talking tough without an action. And before him, things are getting worse in the country.
The simple truth is that Imo youths who are both elder and younger brothers and sisters to Ajaero are disappointed in him and his weakness as one of them heading the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) today, and may have chosen to vent their angers on him the way they did.
Imo youths are worried that he may have been bewitched, and his brain derailed in Abuja by his enemies who may not want him to succeed, (because he is already confused and failing). Some times, you only need to apply a little hit to reset a rattled brain.
This may have been the midset of his kinsmen who besieged him, and allegedly brutalized him. Thank God for the Nigeria Police that saved him. Maybe, worse news would have come out of their action
Thank God also, for the Imo State government under Sen. Hope Uzodinma who have been handling Labour related matters with maturity the past four years. The insults from Ajaero's factional Labour Union to Imolites had reached a boiling point in the hearts of Imo youths. Explosions usually follow such point in Imo, and youths are always youths.
Since the emergence of MR. JOE AJAERO, it is only Imo state that experiences now and then, cuts and withdrawal of Electricity services just like currently ongoing the past one week. The EEDC in Imo has become an instrument of torture, wickedness and punishments to Imolites. Authorities of this company need to put their ears on the ground. Imo youths are already boiling.
During the Naira recoloration period prior to the General elections, Mr. Joe AJAERO ordered a total shut down of Imo state with his Electricity Union where he is a staff cutting off supplies for more than three weeks. Imolites went through great pains and suffered terribly.
Each now and then, Mr. Joe AJAERO is in Imo State, either shutting down the airport, and the Filling stations to make his kinsmen buy fuel at N1,500 a litre, or inciting workers to go to strike just like he was caught doing on the day he was attacked. Why only in Imo?
Imo state is currently going through a process. For whatever he sought to achieve through his crises incitement jamboree in Owerri on that November 1st, a responsible, experienced and nonpartisan Labour Leader ought to have known the ill-timeness of his actions in the state, and possibly, seek police clearance.
Once again, I must commend the Police for their swiftness. I must commend the Governor of Imo State for tolerating thus far, activities of Mr. AJaero.
Finally, let me also caution my fellow Imo youths, to please learn to be civil, and avoid taking laws into our hands. Youths must learn those salient attributes of silence, brain, patience and tolerance we see in the the Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma which he has always used to conquer his enemies.
At the end of this stage, our brother, COMRD JOE AJAERO must quickly go back to his office at the National level, reorganize himself, and start behaving like the true son of Imo he is.
He must, like the Imo Governor said, learn to separate demands of his local developments, from those of his national position today.
Assurances from we Imo youths and his kinsmen, are that we will never abandon him. We shall celebrate him when he makes us proud, while hoping that he shall come home one day, (not now), to add his national experiences to the development of the state.
GOC NWADIKE writes from the Imo Media Engagement Office, Owerri
