BAYO ONANUGA’S MISCHIEF AND THE TRAGEDY OF A NATION — NLC

Press Statement
14/11/2023

BAYO ONANUGA’S MISCHIEF AND THE TRAGEDY OF A NATION

We would have ignored Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy because we know him plus his penchant for unwarranted bellicosity and belligerence. We could equally have forgiven him, knowing full well that overzealous hirelings like him easily go into an overdrive in the mistaken belief that they ‘d earn the confidence of their principals. But doing any of the above ‘d a tacit admission of the misinformation Onanuga has put in the public domain.

Accordingly, we would want misinformed Nigerians and indeed, the world to know that the joint national strike by the NLC and TUC is not about “ego tripping move” intended to “blackmail the government” as Bayo Onanuga mischieviously describes it.

Blackmail the government over what? A bribe or a favour organised labour asked for and did not get it or what?

If Onanuga were not suffering from selective amnesia, he ought to have known that this government should remain grateful to the organised labour for its uncommon patience with a government that clearly was not prepared for the consequences of its fundamentalist market policies of massive currency devaluation and ‘subsidy’ removal which imposed on Nigerians social violence, upheaval, dislocation, displacement or punishment they never before experienced.

Onanuga, similarly ought to have known that organised labour, by not opting for a strike as a first option, acted as a bulwark against the rage of Nigerians thereby saving this government from itself.

Organised labour is not unaware of the misdirected anger of Nigerians for not going for the jugular of this government for justifiable reasons: inflation moved from 19% to 29%; exchange rate from N400 to N1,300; and pump price of pms from N187 to N700, in the first five months of this government!

In light of this, who is punishing “a whole country of over 200 million people”, NLC/TUC or Government of Bola Tinubu?

Similarly, this strike is not “over a personal matter involving the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, whose error of judgment led to the assault on him in Owerri while he was planning to incite the workers in Imo State into a needless strike”, as casually and callously alleged by Bayo Onanuga.

However, herein lies the kernel of the matter. Mr Ajaero is General Secretary of NUEE and neither he nor any of the members of his union in or outside Imo State is owed a salary/pension payment arrears. However, in his capacity as President of the Nigeria Labour Congress he has an oversight over all the unions affiliated to the Congress including the civil servants and pensioners (core/non-core civil servants, teachers, local government workers, pensioners etc) who have been owed in varying degrees of arrears. There have been pending cases of improper implementation of national minimum wage, declaration of thousands of workers as ghost workers, and non-implementagion of agreement reached with the sate government since 2021. Some of this went to court and the state government asked for time out of court for settlement but did not honour its own voluntary agreement as usual. The state government in a written statement did admit it was too busy working to honour its own voluntary agreement. A previous strike action was suspended on the appeal of elder statesmen and women and an appeal by state government. After this, Congress made every humanly possible effort to have the issues peacefully resolved, all to no avail. Congress was left with no option than to resume a strike action in the state with notice. Congress had been to a couple of other sates that did not even commit the sins of Imo State Government.

Coupled with the above, fresh demands were made following the abduction, and gruesome assault and battery òf Comrade Joe Ajaero (by the Police) out of which none has been met fully.

How then could this be a personal matter to Joe Ajaero? Before he became Congress President, he never bothered himself with the affairs of Imo State or any state for that matter except it was the decision of Congress organs.

It is in light of this we would want the world to know that Onanuga’ s sadistic comment is a Freudian slip as this is the way his principals view the Imo State tripple-digit tragedy: the non-payment of workers/pensioners benefits; the choking/stifling environment that leaves workers and citizens gasping for air; the license for impunity that covers murder and attempted murder of dissenting voices including Comrade Joe Ajaero which the Nigerian State now passes off as a “personal matter”. When we first heard through the grape vine that glasses were clinked and pleasantries earthily exchanged by the powers that be following the arrest and torture of Comrade Joe Ajaero, we thought it was one of those rumours but with this confirmation from Bayo Onanuga, we now know better!

But we would want Nigerians not to succumb to the “private matter” narrative as we would wish to remind them of the famous poem, “When They Came for the Jews” ( When they came for the Jews, I said I was not a Jew; When they came for the Teachers, I said I was not a teacher….By the time they came for me there was no one left to shout…).

The arrest and “protective custody” of Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Nigeria Police Force which led to multiple injuries to his person and psychology, is a state-sponsored act of terror not just against an individual but all of us freedom-loving Nigerians. This government is testing the waters, and what a better target than a high-profile Labour leader. If it gets away with it then who amongst us is safe?

Take heed and open your eyes and note that this systematic assault on the citizenry is being co-ordinated by a tiny clique within the government on all fronts: economic, political and social. It is total violence!

We consider it an insult to our collective intellect and sensibility when Bayo Onanuga averrs that “the Federal Government does not condone any form of violence and assault on any citizen…[and] that the Inspector General has ordered investigation into what happened to Mr. Ajaero…”.

So the police will now be the Judge, Jury and Jailer in their own case? What a country we run! Secondly, what per chance, will the police be investigating, when the government by the admission of Onanuga has already found Ajaero guilty, arrested him, convicted him, punished him through torture for “planning to incite the workers in Imo State into a needless strike”.

We concerned Nigerians are not interested in a charade. We demand an honest and thorough investigation by competent and independent professionals (with free and unfettered access to information, people and materials) from within and outside the country. Comrade Joe Ajaero holds offices on the international circuit.

We want Bayo Onanuga and those who sent him and the police much earlier that we shall not be cowed by any body or force no matter the resources at that person’s disposal. No government can be bigger than the people over which it presides!

As for Bayo’s ranting over our so-called disobedience to a court order, he would soon know the cold truth. We would not dignify him with that explanation in this forum. Finally, hirelings who stoke the fire for their principals instead of winning for them friends, are to be kept closer!

Benson Upah
Head of Information and Public Affairs

https://www.nlcng.org/bayo-onanugas-mischief-and-the-tragedy-of-a-nation-nlc/?fbclid=IwAR0CdQMko9RFi_eICLu9UGIEAB7YelKFKdqvXjCe97zAZFItT7sgbCPoCDM

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7910160/ajaero-labour-strike-illegal-not

a rogue

Good......Bayo and cohorts think defending the government and attacking the people are patriotism. We know he is only fighting for his pockets but he should know his limit, people of his type are usually the target when the Citizens fight back. Very self-centered lot.

But this post long shaa

I think that President Tinubu is looking down at Comrade Joe Ajaero with a combination of disgust and suspicion. Reason why a needless bloody assault on him was considered a non-issue in spite of his high profile position.

One thing is certain, if the NLC president was brutalized and nothing happened, then the days of labour protests and picketing as pressure tools are over.

Yes, the current economic realities may make it difficult for President Tinubu to meet all the demands of the Organized Labour and NLC/TUC are aware of this but Tinubu is currently on the high horse of 'disgust and suspicion'. He needs to come down and reach vital compromises.

If former President Buhari had a smooth relationship with NLC and compromised on removal of fuel subsidy for peace, how much more Tinubu who prides himself as a political strategist.

In conclusion, I believe NASS should amend vital Labour laws to insulate serving NLC and TUC leadership from partisan politics in this case Labour Party. It will help when NLC and TUC are negotiating with FG. The current situation is untidy given our local peculiarities.

Bayo Onanugoat the cretinous imbecîle is naturally useless to humanity. The idiot thinks the NLC is Lagos state motor park task force where agberos and omoniles are having a good time with illegality.

The NLC has replied his tantrums with facts on ground, not minding FG's useless threat with useless court order.

The time has come for major showdown between NLC and thîefnubu. Those houseboys thîefnubu appointed to attack NLC should get prepared for a fight. It has begun.

Hehehe.

Onanuga is fighting for his pocket and pay master .

Shameless politicians,they don't care about the masses.

NLC 4 vs 0 Onanuga & APCHIT

Why chose to strike during the election campaign in Imo...you went to Imo to cause undue election interference, and political thugs now gave him wotowoto.

Hope Uzondima still won the election and out of anger, NLC called a strike. If Achonu had won, they would not have gone on strike and Imo civil servant would have still be owed salaries.

The funny thing is Ajaero collect beating because of LP even though their Principal, Peter Obi, is anti-union.

Bayo oyenuga mumu, government is of the people and of no body but him coming out to talk like portable zeh nation become a potential target of the people if things goes other wise

An idiott

So onanuga is now NLC OLC's (obidients Labor congress's) problem?

Las-las, with the way these clowns are going, they'll soon tackle McOluomo.

OLC don turn 'opposition party'

Very soon Ajaero will collect another panelling.

Hmmmmm...as e dey hot

Gbam..

politicoNG:

https://www.nlcng.org/bayo-onanugas-mischief-and-the-tragedy-of-a-nation-nlc/?fbclid=IwAR0CdQMko9RFi_eICLu9UGIEAB7YelKFKdqvXjCe97zAZFItT7sgbCPoCDM

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7910160/ajaero-labour-strike-illegal-not

They don't know Bayo Onanuga. Indomie generation of Labour Party. Smh. Check my signature for free stuffs!

Silence would have being a better answer to that old mumu.
When older generations start acting indifferently, that is a sign that such a society that harbors such individuals is finished.

NLC, we know your game.

Losers and vultures
Anybody that tries any nonsense strike any body that wants to deliberately beggar this country just know that your time is up
Tinubu does not have time for nonsense ohh he will crush you

I wan Bleep

They want to hijack this country but they’ve failed
NLC is now a political party serving the whims of Peter obi the presidential candidate of the Labour Party who was served a bloody nose by the apc
And instead of nursing their wounds in peace they’ve decided to stylishly use the NLC to disrupt activities in the country
Nigerians should resist them by all means

Atleast dem no drag Peter Obi join

netpro:
Very soon Ajaero will collect another panelling.

Well deserved one. He was lucky that he tried that rubbish in his home state of Imo. If it was somewhere in the creeks of Bayelsa, he would have disappeared. 😂😂😂

This is fatality


Bayo Onanuga is not just an overzealous hireling, he is also an ethnic bigot who should be in jail answering for his crimes against humanity. It's on record that Bayo onanuga and his ilks, killed, maimed, destroyed lives and properties of people believed to be from a particular ethnic group because of their democratic choice.

Now, the proper narration of events not the regurgitated lines by degenerate APC people about " private matter, politics". A party that's supposed to be governing still churning out propaganda like they're still campaigning.

fatality
Hehehehe

On two occasions NLC leaders had the chance to endear themselves to the people during that subsidy removal period, rather they opted to smile with those in power instead of driving home their demands albeit with very little adjustments.

Wazit not bcus of obi/LP he received the beating of his life in Imo state??

Dey play!

Felabrity:
Atleast dem no drag Peter Obi join

NLC or LP leaders 🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂

For more jokes text Ajaero NLC to 419 🤣😂😂😂

politicoNG:

https://www.nlcng.org/bayo-onanugas-mischief-and-the-tragedy-of-a-nation-nlc/?fbclid=IwAR0CdQMko9RFi_eICLu9UGIEAB7YelKFKdqvXjCe97zAZFItT7sgbCPoCDM

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7910160/ajaero-labour-strike-illegal-not

I don't think Onanuga have children that can advise him. Same people that pulled GEJ Government down.