By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The invasion of the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday night by some security operatives has angered the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP).
In a statement on Thursday, the group, a coalition of all political parties in the country, condemned the action, which it described as “appalling,” calling on President Bola Tinubu to tame security agencies in the country.
CNPP said the “unwarranted raid” and the “Gestapo-style operation” at the labour union headquarters in Abuja is a “blatant disregard for the principles of democracy and the rule of law.”
“It is appalling that this incident occurred under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was produced through opposition struggle and has presented himself as a democrat over the years.
“The CNPP demands that President Tinubu immediately call to order the security agencies that are turning Nigeria into a police state, attacking opposition voices, and hounding them into detention in a manner reminiscent of a draconian military junta,” a part of the statement said.
The association maintained that, “While we are not advocating violent agitation, or protests, or distribution of inciting materials, we cannot accept the high-handedness of our security forces within civilian environments.”
“At a time when farmers cannot farm in peace due to insecurity, the attempt to gag citizens or intimidate them into submission is unacceptable to a civilized society.
“This approach will only embolden the masses and earn more hatred for the Tinubu administration from people who are already undergoing unbearable economic pains and worsening hunger,” it averred.
“We warn that if the Tinubu administration forgets that Mr President was a product of the trenches, it may be disastrous for the economy if security agencies push citizens underground through the ongoing high-handedness.
“We call on President Tinubu to respect the rights of citizens, including the NLC, and to focus on addressing the economic and security challenges facing the nation.
“The CNPP will continue to speak out against any form of oppression and advocate for the rights of Nigerians under democratic and constitutional governance where the welfare of the citizens remains a top priority at all times,” it further stated.