NLC, ASUU drum support for Saharawi Republic

… Seek sanctions against Morocco
From Peter Ogbonna Eze, Abuja

THE leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday called for economic sanctions against Morocco for her resistance to granting political independence to the people of Saharawi Repub­lic.
The two bodies also warned Africa’s leading billionaire, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to desist from patronizing the Moroccan govern­ment under the guise of business.
Speaking at the occasion to mark the inauguration of the Na­tional Movement For The Liberation of Western Sahara, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the condition of the peo­ple of Saharawi was worrisome, and urged that the world should force Morocco and its collaborators to stop oppressing and plun­dering the resources of the Saharawi people by giving them eco­nomic sanctions.
The labour leader also accused Dangote of working against the liberation of the Saharawi people by his continuous business dealings with Morocco, threatening to enlist Dangote in the black list of those opening frontiers and comfort zones for Moroccan colonialism.
He said: “We are calling on Aliko Dangote to henceforth stop his business dealings with the Moroccan government, which in turn has been to the detriment of the Saharawi people. We are say­ing that should he insist, he should not be surprised to see his name in the list of those who have been working against this emancipa­tion because of selfish gains.
“The NLC will not hesitate to ensure that their business inter­ests will also be visited by our actions. Let me assure all of us that until we are able to liberate the people of Western Sahara, until we are able to place economic sanctions on the supporting collaborators, we can’t continue to enjoy the liberty and freedom that we have been able to get through the struggle we embarked on over the years. This is because; injury to one is injury to all of us. Therefore, we have to work together to make sure that these people are liberated. The situation of the people over there is wor­risome especially those living along the coast of Algeria.”
The Dangote Group in a reaction yesterday by its Chief Cor­porate Communications Officer, Mr. Tony Chiejina said the com­pany’s business policy aligned with Nigeria’s best interest.
Chiejina also said that, “as a responsible corporate entity, we consciously promote peace and justice in all countries where we operate.”