Nigerian publisher Ikechukwu Amaechi has labelled President Bola Tinubu as a strict autocrat, asserting that he governs the country according to his personal agenda.
During an appearance on News Central TV’s Breakfast Central on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, Amaechi criticised Tinubu for his ongoing “harassment” of Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). He believes this is a deliberate attempt to weaken the union and prevent it from becoming a platform for opposition against the government.
“When people refer to President Tinubu as a democrat, I can’t help but laugh,” Amaechi said. “Tinubu is not, and never will be, a democrat. Autocracy is in his nature, and no one should mistake his civilian status or his election as a sign that he embraces democracy.”
Amaechi continued by accusing President Tinubu of preventing the NLC from becoming a voice for those who want to speak out against his administration. He also criticised the government for carelessly accusing individuals of serious crimes such as treason, terrorism financing, and other weighty offenses.
In Amaechi’s view, the government’s actions are only making a mockery of itself by trying to silence criticism.
“Perhaps the government doesn’t realise it, but they are undermining their own credibility with these actions. The constant harassment of figures like Ajaero may, in fact, create more sympathy for them,” he noted.
News Central reported that Ajaero was arrested at the airport on Monday while travelling to the United Kingdom to represent Nigerian workers at the Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference.
The NLC, in a statement, described the arrest as a severe violation of democratic rights, accusing the government of using intimidation to suppress dissent.
In a statement, the NLC condemned Ajaero’s detention, stating that no legal warrant was issued for his arrest and that it represented a blatant abuse of power.
The union called his detention unjustified and accused the government of trying to silence opposing voices as the country grapples with economic hardship.