Labour threatens showdown over Rivers police boss

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in the southern Nigerian state of Rivers have issued a 21 day ultimatum to the Inspector General of Police and Police Service Commission to redeploy the Rivers State Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu.

Should the IGP and the Police Commission not heed their warning, the two unions said they would call for an indefinite strike.

At a joint press Conference, Dr Chris Oruge, the Chairman of the NLC and Comrade Chika Onuegbu, Chairman of TUC expressed dismay that despite a subsisting court order that Police should vacate the Obio/Akpor Local Government Secretariat and allow the workers unrestricted access to their workplace, Mbu has refused to obey court order.

They also recalled the what they called “ Mbu Joseph Mbu’s reckless and unwarranted attack against the newly recruited 13,000 public School teachers by the Rivers State Government.”

According the Labour unions,the teachers were assembled by the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board to collect their letters of posting having earlier been given their letters of appointment.

The labour unions said from the reports available to them, “Mbu used teargas and all manner of uncivilised tactics to chase away these workers who are our members, with a stern warning his men should shoot at sight if the workers dare to re-assemble again.”

He vowed the organised Labour that fought for the entrenchment of democracy cannot fold their hands and watch Rivers State turn into a Police State.

“Police cannot be bigger than the law. Democracy is about obedience to the rule of Law. Police has no right under the law that citizens must obtain permit first before they can gather. In 2007 “Public Order Act” was jettisoned by a Court of Appeal”.

He pointed out that those in leadership today who are treating the masses with impunity were not there when the press and the Labour were fighting for democracy they are enjoying today.

On the allegation that the organised Labour would be accused of being compromised, Onuegbu said that Labour Leaders are used to being blackmailed whenever they are fighting for the tenets of democracy to be upheld.

“We cannot allow Mbu to get to the point when we would be required to obtain permit before our sons and daughters would wed or even conduct crusades because we would gather and because Mbu will accuse us of gathering to protest against President Jonathan.”Onuegbu vowed.