NURTW Leadership Dispute: Yasin Calls for Peace, Accuses Baruwa of Misleading Members
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The 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 made the appeal yesterday 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 defect 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 judgement presided over by Justice O.O Oyewunmi which handed off the case involving NURTW at the Industrial Court
“When he (Baruwa) got Judgement from National Industrial Court, we quickly appealed against and the court struck out the case for lack of jurisdiction, but to our surprise, Baruwa has been going about sending wrong messages to our people that he is the authentic president.
“I want to tell you today that as of today, we only have an interim arrangement headed by Alhaji Aliyu Issa Ore and that the only recognized headquarters of the union is the one at Sapele Street, Garki, Abuja.”
Also, Yasin implored other 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 and 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.
Also, the union’s acting President, Alhaji Ore appealed to members not to entertain any information from Baruwa and his people as they were only out to cause confusion.
Ore, also advised members not to go to any office of the union apart from the one registered at Sapele Street, Abuja.
In addition, Registrar of the Trade Union, Falonipe Amos, said the Federal Government would be very 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 the 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,” he assured the members.
