Mixed Reactions Trail Raid of NLC Headquarters By Armed Security on Thursday Night

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde 

Mixed reactions of Nigerian Netizens have trailed the brazen display of force, in which a swarm of armed security personnel, blending in seamlessly with the dusk of the day, in both uniform and plainclothes, descended upon the Labour House, their presence felt on both the 10th and 2nd floors at about 8.30 pm on Thursday night.

The raid has raised many concerns to the public from different people who have openly ventilated their varied opinions on X.com following the reported raid carried out by armed security personnel in a unique gestapo style.

With calculated precision, they breached the 2nd floor, leaving a trail of disarray in their wake as they ravaged the bookshop, seizing volumes of literature and spiriting them away in their van. 

The purported reason behind the raid is that the seized materials were allegedly used to incite and organize recent protests which has sparked widespread skepticism and alarm. 

This move has raised serious concerns about the gradual erosion of intellectual freedom, with many questioning the true motives behind the authorities' actions.

In this insightful surveying of public reactions on the ugly development by OPEN TELEVISION Naija (OTN) News on X.com, several opinions highlight a growing frustration with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its perceived reluctance to take timely action in advocating for better working conditions. 

OTN News profiles some of the responses to the official post on the raid by the NLC on its x Twitter handle @ No headquarters below: @OsebiAdams posed a critical question: "Must the NLC wait to be mistreated before joining protests that demand better working conditions for all?" 

This sentiment reflects a broader concern that Nigeria can only achieve progress if citizens unite in support of just causes, even if the current issues don't directly affect them.

Another user, @adihakpanifa, expressed frustration, criticizing those who support leaders they should hold accountable. 

She remarked, "How will things improve when you’ve sold your franchise by fraternizing with those you should challenge? 70k? You haven’t seen anything yet. Until you clean up your act, you’re all complicit."

@Winsomedesign, identified as an architect affiliated with Peter Obi, went further, alleging that the NLC's recent outcry over mistreatment was a staged attempt to position themselves as victims. 

He argued that the NLC’s goal was to join the protest, claim leadership, and then negotiate on behalf of the protesters, suggesting it was all premeditated.

However, another user, @stevosk, expressed skepticism about the NLC's motives, questioning, "What game is the NLC playing this time? Seems like some strategy is at play... Troop withdrawal denied." 

He implied that the NLC might be using the protest as a tactic to gather more support, only to pull back once they achieved their aims.

Similarly, @Nsikakobongmmi criticized the NLC for not joining the #EndBadGovernance protest earlier, pointing out that their inaction has now come back to haunt them. 

He emphasized that bad Governance goes beyond economic issues, encompassing a blatant disregard for human rights.

As a matter of professional journalism ethics, OTN News chose not to profile the vehement reactions of some Netizens who chose to go the way of using unprintable and vulgar words to comment on the NLC post in question.

In conclusion, @JBolufawi2015 warned the NLC that they are only beginning to face the consequences of their silence on the hardships in the country. 

He ominously stated, "This is just the tip of the iceberg for all of you at NLC. You’ve ignored the hunger in the land, but soon enough, you’ll face more severe repercussions." 

In all, these varied opinions reflect a deepening public distrust in the leadership of the NLC, lesser degree of public empathy for the Congress and a call for greater accountability and action from the organization.