From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
The National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW) in Osun State has denied the involvement of its members in the recent clash by some motorists in the state.
The union refuted claim that its members are creating crisis within the Osun State Transport Management System (OSTMS) to antagonize the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke, saying both members of the OSTMS and NURTW are all working for the development of the state.
Chairman of NURTW in the State, Kazeem Oyewale, disclosed that members of OSTMS and NURTW in the state are colleagues who relate harmoniously.
Oyewale who is also known as Asiri Eniba said “the diversity, we believe, should be our pride and strength as a state and this should not cause hatred and fight among brothers.”
“We have observed of recent, needless attack, harassment, intimidation and threat to live of our members by some members of OSTMS in our various parks in the state. Some of our members are being ejected from their parks.
“All these we believe are efforts capable of reenacting bloody war in the state if it is not nipped in the bud by the state government,” he added.
The NURTW boss also prevailed on Governor Adeleke to order the OSTMS to return its property in its hold.
It would be recalled that the Adeleke’s administration after its inauguration in 2022 banned the activities of the NURTW in the state and appointed members into the Transport Management System under the control of the state Ministry of Transportation.
Oyewale disclosed that since the proscription of NURTW in the state, the newly inaugurated park managers have been operating from the NURTW state secretariat built with the union’s money.
He alleged that the park managers have seized all vehicles belonging to the union illegally, urging Governor Adeleke to intervene with a view to resolving the issue amicably.
“Our state council secretariat is currently being occupied by the government agency called OSTMS. The secretariat which was built with union funds during the administration of the former state chairman, Late Alhaji Adegboyega Tomori Olugbodi and the then state secretary, Late Akin James and also all various branches vehicles are in their possession.
“Whereas Article 29, Section 1, Sub-Section II of our union’s constitution states that “All properties acquired by and for the union in whosoever custody and of whatever nature, belongs to the union.”
“It is in view of this that we are begging the state Governor to help us direct the members of the OSTMS to vacate our state secretariat for they have been stealing the union properties at the secretariat
“We would be compelled to approach a court of law to retrieve our property if all efforts to resolve the issue is not successful,” he said.
