Onyekachi Eze 
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the Federal Government to be careful not to throw the country into crisis, with the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero.
Ajaero was arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Monday on his way to London.
PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, at a press conference on Monday, said there is a need for the government to act with caution.
Ologunagba condemned the government’s resort to arrest and branding people terrorists, or sponsors of protest.
“We know those who sponsored the protest; the sponsor is hunger. The president and his people should arrest hunger and there will be no problem,” he stated.
He told President Bola Tinubu that his policies are draconian and are bringing suffering to people.
According to him, government exists for the welfare and security of the people, adding, “Now we don’t have welfare, no security.
“Let the government face the welfare (and) challenges of this country, then there will be no protest.
“Nobody really cares who the president of this country is, if the government provide us with the opportunity to pursue our own goals and aspirations.
“Indeed, government is about welfare and the people are saying we are dying; it is sane to review those policies.”
Ologunagba called on Tinubu to show leadership and stop the profligacy that characterised his government.
“This is a country that cannot pay N70,000 according to them, minimum wage. But this is a country that can buy a $150 million plane. (The president is trying to test how good it is and he is flying everywhere.)
“This is a country where you spend N21 billion to renovate the Vice President’s house; this is a country where they have no money according to them, but the president will buy a yacht. There is no water body in Abuja, so for the president to get to the yacht he will have to travel one hour to Lagos. The yacht has 24-hour security protection.
“The president should know that when he is in a position, it is in our interest that he succeeds because the success of the president is our success. Nobody wishes him failure.
“But if his decisions are such that it is causing Nigerians pain, we will speak. We know the reality of Nigeria, with its constraints of tribe and ethnicity, but it pales into insignificance with the reality of Nigerians. People are dying every day and you know that,” he stated.
Ologunagba also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of importing thugs from Imo State, to serve as electoral officers in the September 21 Edo governorship election.
He warned that the people of Edo State are aware of the plan and will resist it. PDP spokesperson told the APC that nobody has a monopoly on violence or is above the law.
“APC and its candidate are practically pushing the people of Edo State to the wall; they should know that there is a limit to what a people can stomach in the face of aggression and be ready the face the consequences if they fail to desist from these dastardly acts.
“The people of Edo State have had enough from the APC and will use every legitimate means allowed in a democracy to defend themselves by directly and physically confronting and resisting the APC in its desperate plot to derail the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State,” PDP warned.
