Emmanuel OchayiSatguru Maharaj Ji, the Living Perfect Master and founder of One Love Family, has condemned the planned strike by Labour leaders, labelling it as “economic sabotage” and blackmail against the government.
He called for the immediate arrest of union leaders to prevent further harm to the nation.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelEarlier this week, Nigeria’s Trade unions initiated a nationwide strike, which led to the shutdown of the country’s power grid and significant disruptions to flights. The strike was aimed at pressuring the government to increase the minimum wage amid a growing cost-of-living crisis. The industrial action severely affected the power supply for Nigeria’s 200 million people and stranded thousands due to flight cancellations.
Labour officials, for the first time in Nigeria’s history, went to substations housing the country’s electricity grids, chased workers away, and cut off the power supply nationwide. “This is a heinous crime and a mutiny against the state,” Maharaj Ji declared in a press statement, released over through One Love Family’s Minister for Information, Ojo Mogbadewa. “It’s akin to attacking the Defence Headquarters or the Senate.”
READ ALSO: Labour Suspends Nationwide Strike For One Week
The strike led to the closure of all airports, including two international ones, disrupted workplaces and schools, and even paralysed crude oil production, causing millions of dollars in losses. Maharaj Ji emphasised that further strikes would have dire consequences for the economy.
“Abandoning negotiations and shutting down the country will cause untold hardship for all segments of society,” he said. “This hard stance will also severely impact the survival, resilience, productive capacity, and competitive advantage of over 39 million MSMEs, which contribute significantly to economic stability through job and wealth creation.”
He urged the Labour leaders to reconsider their approach and return to the negotiation table. “Going on strike again is illegal and unwarranted. It is blackmailing the government,” he said. Maharaj Ji accused the Labour leaders of having a hidden political agenda, rather than a genuine economic plan. “Joel Ajaero and his gang are not economists. They endorsed and campaigned for Peter Obi during the elections. They are fighting a proxy war for him. This is not about the workers; it’s about political objectives.”
Reflecting on previous strikes, Maharaj Ji mentioned that Nigerian workers have been striking repeatedly since President Tinubu’s election. He recounted the three-week strike by resident doctors last August and the brutal attack on NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in Imo State during a protest. “Despite restraining orders from the National Industrial Court, the Labour leaders proceeded with their strikes, causing unnecessary chaos,” he said.
Maharaj Ji warned that attacking the national grid is a severe act of aggression that should not go unpunished. “In other countries, such as the UK, Russia, China, and the USA, striking workers would not dare to attack the national grid. The soldiers on duty at these stations should also be arrested and tried. This act of aggression must be dealt with firmly.”
He called for true patriotic Nigerians to replace the current Labour leaders and urged the government to act swiftly. “The security men responsible for guarding the national grid must be arrested and treated as terrorists, along with the Labour leaders, to serve as a deterrent to others.”
However, Maharaj Ji stressed the importance of non-violent protest and dialogue. “Strikes should be non-violent to show the seriousness of the matter. Attacking the national grid is a serious crime and an act of terror that should not be overlooked. The Federal Government must arrest and try these leaders as terrorists. They do not believe in the workers’ plight; they are servicing their personal interests.”
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
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