Citizens for Democratic Dividends in Nigeria (CDDN) has wholly rejected the attempts by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its president, Joe Ajaero, to deceive Nigerians and manipulate public sentiment.
It considered NLC's claim of betrayal an insult to Nigerians' collective intelligence and a blatant attempt to exploit the people's genuine grievances for personal gain.
The CDDN, in a statement by its executive director, Comrade Ahmad Musa Idris, rejected any manoeuvre by Ajaero or the NLC to drag Nigerians into covering up Ajaero's alleged terrorism charges and his efforts to manipulate the truth.
"Joe Ajaero's recent statements, where he claims that the government betrayed the labour movement by failing to honour a supposed agreement on a N70,000 minimum wage without a corresponding increase in fuel prices, are nothing but a desperate ploy to garner sympathy and deflect attention from his criminal charges.
"CDDN recalls that NLC and Ajaero openly recently betrayed the Nigerian people when they were desperate for their salary increase without taking cognizance of the plight of millions of ordinary people.
"Ajaero's sudden outcry, after months of inaction, is not only sad but also a testament to his disregard for the true interests of the Nigerian people.
"When Nigerians faced unbearable hardship and called for nationwide protests, Ajaero and the NLC turned a blind eye. They refused to participate in the protests, prioritizing their minimum wage agreement over the suffering of millions of Nigerians," it said.
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It claimed that now, faced with accusations of treason and alleged involvement in a plot to overthrow the government, Ajaero seeks to drag the NLC and the Nigerian people into his legal battles, saying this is an apparent attempt to use the labour movement as a shield to escape justice.
The statement reads, "The CDDN categorically states that Joe Ajaero must carry his cross alone. His tactics will not deceive Nigerians. It is evident that Ajaero is not acting in the best interests of the Nigerian people but is instead using their genuine grievances as a smokescreen to protect himself from prosecution.
"The Nigeria Police's accusation of treason against Ajaero is a serious matter that must be addressed in Court, and the NLC should not be used as a pawn in this dangerous game by Ajaero whose interest and that of the oppressed that need real salvation are in dissonance.
"We urge all Nigerians to remain vigilant and not allow themselves to be manipulated by those who seek to exploit their struggles for personal gain. The CDDN will continue to stand for justice, transparency, and the true democratic dividends that every Nigerian deserves."
