Abati: I thought I could rattle Tinubu during media chat — but he knows what he’s doing

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has revealed that President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, snubbed an invitation by security operatives as if he were above the laws of Nigeria.

He said this accounted for part of the reasons he was picked up at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Onanuga, in a lengthy statement on Tuesday revealing the intricacies surrounding the arrest, said no one is above the law of the land, especially in a country like Nigeria governed by a constitution.

He noted that the Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom opened its conference today in London, with its leader making false claims about human rights abuses and violations in Nigeria.

According to the presidential media aide, the Nigerian government was wrongly and falsely accused of rights abuse because the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, was stopped from traveling abroad after he snubbed the invitation of a law enforcement agency conducting an ongoing investigation.

Lambasting Ajaero, he said the NLC President probably considers himself above the law. He was slated to speak at the same conference where the UK TUC leader attacked Nigeria. His actions, however, have serious consequences, as no one is above the law in Nigeria.

Buttressing his claims, Onanuga said clearly, under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), no person is above the summons of law enforcement agencies and lawful investigation.

Citing the UK, where Ajaero was headed, the presidential aide said, like the United Kingdom and other civilized nations, Nigeria is a country of law governed by the Constitution.

“We are not aware that there is anyone in the United Kingdom or anywhere in Europe and the United States, trade union leaders included, who will flagrantly ignore the invitation or summons of MI5 or Scotland Yard or treat the FBI with the level of disdain Mr. Ajaero has shown to law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.

“In the United States, for example, former President Donald Trump has been the subject of numerous investigations and prosecutions in courts in several states since he left office. Mr. Hunter Biden, son of the President of the United States, has been the subject of a lawful investigation by the FBI.

“We, therefore, reject any notion and allusion to human rights violations in Nigeria. The accusations made by the Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom are, thus, unfounded and based on a misunderstanding of the situation.

“Besides, the Nigerian government is being led by a pro-democracy activist president who will do everything to protect civil liberties and the rights of all citizens,” he stated.

Writing further, Onanuga said there is no adversarial relationship between the Labour Movement in Nigeria and the government.

“While labour unions and the government may not always agree on policy direction, the government has consistently shown readiness to engage on any issue with labour despite the latter’s political partisanship.”