Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has pointed fingers at the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, alleging that his involvement in the state’s political affairs is influenced by his allegiance to the Labour Party (LP). Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Thursday, November 9, 2023, the governor claimed that Ajaero’s activities are geared towards advancing the agenda of the Labour Party in the upcoming Imo State governorship election in 2023.
The accusations come in the wake of a reported assault on Ajaero in Imo State, where he sustained facial injuries during a protest mobilization in the state capital. While the NLC has accused the Uzodimma government of orchestrating the attack, the governor denies the allegations. In response, organised labour has declared a nationwide strike, scheduled to commence on November 14, to protest the assault on Ajaero.
Despite the tensions, Uzodimma expressed his perplexity over Ajaero’s hostility towards his government and expressed a desire to engage in a dialogue with the labour leader in the future. The situation adds a political layer to the ongoing dynamics leading up to the 2023 Imo State governorship election, with labour issues becoming intertwined with political affiliations and agendas.
