… Says history ‘ll judge it if it chickens out
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has berated the Department of State Service, DSS, over statement issued by the secret police concerning the nationwide protest being planned by Labour.
NLC accused DSS of trying to portray it in bad light and possibly arm twist it to shelve the planned protest.
Piqued by the action of the DSS, Labour vowed to go ahead with the planned protest against the biting economic hardship, insisting that it is in the interest of the masses and not intended to compromise the soverignty of the nation as being portrayed by the DSS.
Labour said history would not forgive it if it chickened out at this stage.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in a statement, told DSS not to assume the role of Government’s spokesperson, and to hold its unsolicited advice.
Below is a full text of the statement obtained by Ikengaonline : “We are concerned by the unsolicited advice of the Department of State Security to shelve our planned protest against the unprecedented high cost of living in spite of the indescribable suffering in the land, spiraling inflation, deepening poverty and the Naira at an exchange rate of N1,900 to the US Dollar.
“According to the Service, the planned protest should be shelved “in the interest of peace and public order”, pre-supposing that the action is intended to be violent and disruptive even when we have a history of peaceful protests.
“More worrying is the new role the Service has assigned to itself, the chief spokesperson of the government. According to the Service, “It is common knowledge that all levels of Government are striving to ameliorate the prevailing economic condition and as such, should be given a benefit of the doubt, So far, appropriate authorities are working assiduously with a spectrum of stakeholders to fashion out modalities to address the current difficulties.”
“We are equally worried that although the “Service is aware that some elements are planning to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and by extension, widespread violence”, and yet have not executed the arrest of these elements.
“We are equally intrigued by the innuendos of the Service, their philosophy of “peace” and wild allegations and we want to reassure them that no one loves this country more than us and on our honour, we would never do anything that will compromise its sovereignty or security.
“Having said this, we would not have ourselves blackmailed or lied against by the Service. Our protest is a peaceful one against the unpardonable cost of living of which the unserviced personnel of the Service are also victims. We cannot fold our hands and pretend all is well. That will be a grievous conspiracy that history will not forgive.”
