Air Peace Airline denies link to NLC President Arrest

In response to the recent media reports, Air Peace Airlines has issued a statement refuting allegations that its petition against the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, had anything to do with his arrest.

The airline clarified that while it filed a petition against the NLC in 2023 due to a disruption in its operations by the labour union, the issue was long resolved, and the petition had been withdrawn.

According to the statement, the dispute arose in May 2023 when the NLC disrupted Air Peace’s services, causing significant financial losses and inconvenience to the airline and its customers.

Air Peace’s spokesperson, Omotade Makinwa, emphasized that the airline had no involvement in the dispute between the NLC and the Imo State government, but it had unfortunately become a target in the conflict. Despite the initial petition, the airline and the NLC had since reconciled and forged a positive working relationship.

The late arrest of Ajaero, therefore, came as a surprise to Air Peace, as it had already withdrawn its petition. The company expressed deep concern over the negative publicity caused by the reports linking its petition to the arrest.

The statement from Air Peace shed light on the intricate dynamics of labour disputes in Nigeria and the potential consequences for businesses. While the NLC has a constitutional right to engage in peaceful protests, the use of a private airline as a means to exert pressure on the government could have a significant impact on the company’s operations and reputation.

The aftermath of the incident and the late action taken by the police serve as a reminder of the complexities involved in labour disputes and the need for all parties to work together in a transparent and constructive manner to avoid such situations in the future.

References and Citations:

• Naija News – Petition against Ajaero has been withdrawn Air peace clarifies
• Vanguard – Petition against Ajaero has been withdrawn, Air peace clarifies
• Tribune Online – We had withdrawn our Petition against NLC, Air peace denies link to Ajaero arrest

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