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Press release issued by the NLC, Saturday 9 October 2004
The President of the NLC, Mr. Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, was arrested at 8.30 a.m. today (Saturday 9th of October 2004) at gunpoint at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, without any warrant.
Mr. Oshiomhole was abducted by a team of operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) numbering over fifteen, who overpowered him, wrestled him to the ground and bundled him into a standby Peugeot 504 station wagon, which bore no licence plates. In the process, his jacket was torn and he sustained bruises caused by the rough-handling and the impact of the several falls he sustained before being half-dragged, half-carried into the vehicle.
The arrest took place in the full view of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including its Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbe, and Secretary, Chief Vincent Ogboluafo, who made no attempt to intervene.
Workers and passengers who were attracted by the noise of the scuffle were physically prevented from accessing the tarmac area by security men who had their weapons drawn.
Mr. Oshiomhole’s whereabouts still remain unknown while he had been dispossessed of his mobile phone, rendering him completely incommunicado.
However, before his phone was seized, he had spoken to the National Secretariat of the NLC and was in very high spirits, urging full encouragement towards an effective prosecution of the stay-at-home strike/protest.
Three others who had accompanied the NLC President to the airport were briefly detained and questioned at the airport office of the SSS. They are Mr. Philip Shuaibu, former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, Special Assistant to the NLC President, and Mr. Obadiah Bapven. Both Messrs Shuaibu and Bapven were savagely beaten by the SSS operatives.
The NLC strongly deplores Mr. Oshiomhole’s arrest and the mindless violence involved in effecting it. The arrest is another indication of the authoritarian intolerance, which has made this government completely incapable of relating to the wishes of the people and the necessity for constructive dialogue. This is a regrettable throwback to the dark days of military dictatorship, and creates further dangers to the democratic process.
Congress further calls on the Federal Government to order the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Oshiomhole. Congress also calls for the release of Mr. Femi Aborishade, General Secretary of the National Conscience Party and member of the Labour Civil Society Coalition
However, Congress remains undeterred by this incidence and the official strategy of mass arrests and intimidation, which this government has crudely settled for. The arrest will not affect the planned action.
The General Strike/Stay-at-home, therefore, commences as scheduled on Monday 11th of October, 2004. It shall be total and nation-wide and the NLC/Civil Society Coalition shall give effective leadership.
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS:
Salihu Lukman
Ag. General Secretary
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