Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Ayuba Wabba addressing protesters in Kaduna State.
- says come and arrest me
Barely two hours after Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai declared the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba wanted for economic sabotage, the labour leader has led another protest within Kaduna metropolis.
The governor asked the NLC president to submit himself to nearest police station for prosecution for economic sabotage in the state, adding that there is no going back on his decision to sack workers and the state is not ready to reach any compromise with the labour union.
Wabba who led protesters from NLC Secretariat to Nepa Roundabout with security operatives has responded to governor El-Rufai’s threat saying, “let him come and arrest me. it is not about me. We are here and waiting for them.”
The protest which started around 7:00 Am was peaceful until some hoodlums wielding matchets and sticks disrupt the protest.
Police personal guarding the protesters, however, chased the hoodlums away by firing canisters. It was equally gathered that one of the thugs was arrested and taken away by security operatives.
Earlier, Wabba said the NLC is committed to dialogue, but “Every avenue to dialogue was not there in place, because the governor thought that he is the alpha and omega. He believes that he is a demigod and he is overusing power to the detriment of the people.
“In all the states that we go, when we send messages we are on the ground, the chief executive officer will try and find out why we are around and in some cases we allow room for dialogue and also a resolution through a communique.
“From Imo to Rivers, we meet and discussed burning issues. But what is different with this Kaduna state is that there is no room for any dialogue. He preferred it this way and that is why the action was very total.
“The commissioner for information said services were disrupted, we nearly said our workers should withdraw their services which is legal because we are not slaves.
“Under the law, workers have the right to withdraw their services.”
Wabba, who was on Tuesday declared wanted by the governor had on Monday led workers in Kaduna State on a warning strike to force El-Rufai to rescind his decision to sack workers in the state.
The action by the NLC led to the grounding of economic and social activities in the state with workers in the railway, aviation, medical sector and others joining the protest staged by the Congress.
Reacting, Governor El-rufai, in a tweet yesterday, said the NLC and its protest displayed some unlawful actions. He accused the Congress of “shutting down electricity, coercion and restraints of personal freedom, trespass into public facilities and denial of access to healthcare for several of our citizens.”
“They closed several hospitals and chased away the patients,” he added.
In an update today, the governor said, “Ayuba Wabba & others of @NLCHeadquarters declared wanted for economic sabotage & attacks on public infrastructure under Miscellaneous Offences Act. Anyone that knows where he is hiding should send a message to @MOJKaduna KDSG. There will be a handsome reward!”
Reacting, the NLC Chairman, while leading a protest of striking workers to the government house on Tuesday, dared the governor to arrest him.
“Let him come and arrest me. We are here and waiting for them,” he was quoted by Dailytrust.
The Guardian, The Punch
