Alleged terrorism: Withdraw invite to NLC President, Ugochinyere urges police

The member of the House of Representatives representing Ideato Federal Constituency, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, has charged the Nigerian Police to withdraw their invitation to the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress ( NLC), Joe Ajaero, over alleged terrorism financing.

Ugochinyere, in a statement, on Wednesday, urged the police to channel their energy towards combating insecurity across the country, rather than inviting the NLC President over alleged terrorism financing.

The lawmaker, who is also the spokesperson of opposition coalition in the House , said judging from his personal experience, there is no substance in the allegations against Ajaero.

The Police had invited Ajaero over alleged criminal conspiracy and terrorism financing. Nevertheless, the NLC President said he would honour the invite on August 29.

Regardless, Ugochinyere said if police wants to help President Bola Tinubu, it should concentrate on combating banditry, oil theft and other acts of criminality militating against the country. 

According to him, "Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC President didn’t commit any terrorism or murder challenge, drop it, so you don’t bring people back on the street and create confusion for the President. If you want to help President Tinubu go and chase out these bandits in the forest. Find out why crude oil is still being stolen. You don’t help the President by inviting NLC President and accusing him of murder and treason. Stop it!.

"The President needs help, there’s insecurity, that’s why there’s economic hardship, that’s why food products are high. That’s the real terror that you need to deal with not Comrade Ajaero.

"I have to advise the Nigerian police, there’s no basis for this now, what Nigerians need now is more enhanced security, more involvement of security agencies in quelling security challenges across all parts of the country instead of inviting the President of Nigerian Labour Congress for a chat over his involvement in terrorism. 

"These are old strategies that people can decode, from someone that has been through it, this same police force invited me multiple times and charge me multiple times. Based on my personal experience, I think this invitation should be withdrawn, the country is at a difficult moment now."