Being the text of the press statement following the bomb blasts at a motor park in Kano, 19-03-13
We at the Nigeria Labour Congress condemn in very strong terms the unjustifiable act of horror perpetrated in Kano on Monday by yet to be identified bombers which left scores of passengers and other users of a motor park dead. It was cowardly and shameful and incapable of advancing any cause except evil.
We at the Congress believe that no cause is worth killing innocent Nigerians for.
If motor parks where ordinary people use or eke out their daily living are no longer safe, where else could be safe? Yet we urge the people of Nigeria and citizens of other nations domiciled in Nigeria not to be intimidated or beaten. Instead, we should rise in unison and with common accord to preach peace and unity in our land. These are difficult moments indeed but we must rise to the challenge in the hope that in the end, good shall triumph over evil.
We call on every law-abiding citizen to be vigilant and forge a sense of community with their neighbor(s) to overcome this temporary challenge.
We also call on our law enforcement agents to rise to the challenge of combating terror and to especially focus on protecting defenseless and vulnerable people. To be able to do this successfully, our intelligence and security agencies need all the support they can get from government.
In furtherance of the above, we wish to invite the government to as a matter of urgency do all that is necessary and explore all legitimate avenues to bring to an end this insurgency. We dare say this includes addressing the remote and immediate causes of this phenomenon, re- equipping our intelligence and security forces to be proactive and also be able to cope with new challenges.
The choice of target in the latest barbaric act is intended to raise primordial sentiments but we should see it for what it is, a desperate act by desperate people to weaken the bonds that hold us together. We will overcome them if we refuse to fall for their ploy, by not carrying reprisal attacks.
We at the Congress wish to re-affirm our faith in an indivisible and in alienable Nigeria where all can co-exist. We therefore further re-iterate our readiness to meditate in bringing this needless fury to an end.
Finally we wish to extend our deep condolences to the victims and families of this unfortunate carnage. May God grant the dead peaceful repose and the wounded, speedy recovery.
Promise Adewusi
Acting President
