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Disquiet may be brewing in the Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) following the death of former chairman, Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde a.k.a Fele.
Just few hours after Fele’s burial, Newspeakonline gathers that top members of the union are beginning to bicker over new leadership.
A report by Oyo Insight reveals that these top members and leaders are quietly protesting the appointment of Alhaji Abideen Olajide a.k.a Ejiogbe as acting chairman by the union’s national leadership.
Another source told Newspeakonline that union members loyal to Fele were already telling Ejiogbe that he is not their leader.
Recall that immediately after Fele’s death was reported, national president of the union, Alhaji Najeem Yasin, swiftly announced that Ejiogbe would step in as acting chairman in line with the NURTW constitution.
Fele who doubled as South West chairman of NURTW, died on Tuesday at the Zenith Medical Kidney Hospital in Abuja, and was buried in his house in Ibadan on Wednesday. He was 58 years old.
According to a source quoted by Oyo Insight, Ejiogbe invited leaders of the union to a meeting at the union’s secretariat at Ojoo, Ibadan, but they declined because “they are of the belief that by leaving New Garage for Ojoo, late Fele’s supporters would be edged out of power”.
Before Fele’s death, meetings were held temporarily at the motor park at New Garage area of the city after the structure of state secretariat collapsed few weeks ago.
Anticipatng the current disaffection among members of the union, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has warned members of the union against violence in a bid to choose a new chairman for the union.
The governor gave the warning when he addressed about 100 leaders of the union, led by Ejiogbe at the executive chamber of his office in Ibadan on Thursday.
The situation in the union is being watched closely due to the volatility of its leadership and succession events. Newspeakonline recalls that immediately news of Fele’s death broke, many residents tried to avoid areas such as Iwo Road, Bere, Born Foto, Molete and several other areas which used to be hotbeds of NURTW violence more than seven years ago.
Besides, the current political atmosphere with general elections in sight, may provide a fertile ground for opportunists.
In his address on Thursday, Ajimobi, making reference to the thuggery and brigandage of the past, appealed to the NURTW members not to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the state since he became governor. He acknowledged that the late Fele played a pivotal role in the maintenance and sustenance of peace and security in the state.
His words: “Politicians will come and try to use you, don’t be used. Where are those they used yesterday? When they died, what did they do for them? What about those they cut their fingers, arms and legs, where are those politicians who sent them? Those who went to jail, where are the politicians who sent them? You are all mature adults and decent human beings, don’t let anyone use you. We must play politics of cooperation, progress, and of support.
“When we came in, we all know the fact that Oyo State was a pariah state. Oyo State was a state of brigands, and it was known for brigandage. It was known for criminality. It was known for all the bad things in the socio-economic development of any state.
“But we came in, and we solicited the support of NURTW and of which we contributed to his (Oyerinde) emergence as the chairman of NURTW in Oyo State. We gave him only one directive on assumption of office and the directive was to ensure peace and tranquillity in Oyo State, and that he had done commendably.
“When the history of our administration is written, one major achievement of our administration and at the nucleus of our success, is the maintenance of peace and security in the state, of which Oyerinde played a very pivotal role. We will continue to cherish that memory of peace that he left behind.
“I am also taking this opportunity to request that all of you (NURTW members), in his (Oyerinde) memory, continue to maintain peace and security of the state, and follow your constitution and the rule of law. I must commend all of you for supporting him when he was alive to make sure peace and security were maintained. Now, I am also imploring you to continue in that direction of peace, security and to contribute to the socio-economic development of our state. Your role is very vital.