The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo, on Thursday, counselled the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) against politicising the alleged maltreatment of the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, saying politics might destroy the labour movement in the country.
Keyamo maintained that his Ministry was not involved in Ajaero’s alleged maltreatment by security agents.
Keyamo, who spoke at the opening of a retreat for the Minister, Permanent Secretary, Directors and Head of Agencies of the Aviation Ministry, held in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, said that the “aviation sector should not be involved in the protest”.
Keyamo’s call was coming amidst a protest staged at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja in the early hours of Thursday.
He said: “Their retaliation is aviation. So, please, I want to tell them to leave us alone. Leave aviation alone. You cannot target Aviation in trying to address your grievances.”
He noted that the protest affected foreigners coming into the country as well as citizens going about their normal businesses as, according to him, the protesters disrupted aviation activities by blocking the access road to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport.
Keyamo however condemned Ajaero’s alleged maltreatment, maintaining that nobody should be manhandled in the country.
“I condemn what happened to my friend, Ajaero. Nobody should get fisticuffs. But in the same breath, they should not find themselves in the realm of politics”, he said.
