CLO calls on Gov. Chime to release Labour Leaders

 
The Aba Unit of the Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, has called on the Enugu state government to effect the release of Comrade Osmond Ugwu, who has been remanded in prison, on what it described as trumped up charges.

In a statement made available to news men, and signed by the Chairman, Dr. Charles Chinekezi, CLO said Ugwu's detention reminds the citizenry of the dark days of military dictatorship.

“We condemn the detention of Ugwu, and call on the Enugu state government to release him. There is no doubt that his incarceration is politically motivated, this is as a result of his unrelenting efforts to better the lots of Enugu workers. The allegation of attempted murder is unfounded, he should be released forthwith.

“ The resort to intimidation of the opposition which the Enugu government has demonstrated through Ugwu's incarceration will not only aggravate the problem, but also lend credence to the widely held views that Gov. Chime's government does not tolerate opposition.”

It will be recalled that various state chapters of the CLO had lent their voices to the growing calls on the Enugu government to release the Labour leader, whom they described as credible and fearless. In a recent statement signed by the Anambra state Chairman and Secretary of CLO, Comrades Alloysius Attah and Justus Ijeoma, the chapter noted that “ Ugwu was remanded in Prison custody on spurious allegations of attempted and felony.

” The daily praying and fasting sessions he organized recently at the Labour secretariat, were recording huge attendance and the government became uncomfortable, so Ugwu has to be marked. Chime has tried to buy him over, but Ugwu has been unyielding. He also 'fought' former Gov. Chimaroke Nnamani to a stand over his anti labour posture ”a government house source hinted.

Pointblanknews.com gathered that well individuals of Enugu state, including the Clergy, have continued to appeal to Chime to release the detained labour leaders, but the governor has so far, rebuffed them. 

For now, Ugwu and his colleague, Raphael Elobuike, has been in detention for two weeks on the orders of an Enugu Magistrate Court, even as Chime through his Commissioner for Information, Chuks Ugwuoke, insists that the government has no hand in Ugwu's ordeal.