NURTW crisis: Stop causing confusion, Yasin tells Baruwa

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Najeem Usman Yasin, has sued for peace and cautioned the former president of the union, Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, to desist from causing confusion.

Yasin, who spoke at an emergency meeting of zonal chairmen, state chairmen, secretaries and treasurers, with the national administrative council in Abuja, said all hands must be on deck to detect sowers of discord.

“Baruwa has been going about misleading the people that he is the authentic leader of the union, despite a National Industrial Court’s judgement presided over by Justice O.O Oyewunmi, which handed off the case involving the NURTW at the industrial court

“When he (Baruwa) got judgement from the National Industrial Court, we quickly appealed against it and the court struck out the case for lack of jurisdiction, but to our surprise, he has been going about sending wrong messages to our people that he is the authentic president.

“I want to tell you that as of today, we only have interim arrangements headed by Alhaji Aliyu Issa Ore, and that the only recognised headquarters of the union is the one at Sapele Street, Garki, Abuja.”

He also implored members to disregard any further propaganda spearheaded by Baruwa, noting that misinformation would divide the Union.

“Baruwa should wait for the outcome of the Court of Appeal before making any noise. He destroyed the union and now he wants to use the power of incumbency to manipulate everybody, but we say no to his manipulation.

“If he wants anything in the union, he has to go back to his people in the South West. If his people want him to represent them, we would accept him. But anything short of that, he has to wait for the outcome of the Court of Appeal,” he said.

The Union’s Acting President, Alhaji Ore, also appealed to members not to entertain any information from Baruwa and his cohorts as they were only out to cause confusion.

He also advised them not to go to any office of the union apart from the one registered at Sapele Street, Abuja.

Rhe Registrar of the Trade Union, Mr Falonipe Amos, who was part of the meeting said the Federal Government would be happy to see the crisis resolved.

“We are all members of the same family and the two parties should keep hope alive and work for peace. We are father to all the union, we are for the interest of the union and hope that at the end of the day, the union will come out stronger.”