A former factional chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi has denied report that he planned to takeover the structure of the Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, by force.
Auxiliary, as he is fondly called spoke on a radio programme Gbangba-Lasaata Programme on Splash FM, Ibadan.
Leadership reported that Auxiliary’s supporters, who had thronged the station yesterday, said the current acting chairman of the NURTW in the state, Alhaji Abideen Olajide a.k.a Ejiogbe, will be sacked for Auxiliary to return.
Ogunesan Ogunniran, a former Secretary of Lagelu Interstate of the union who led other aides of Auxiliary to the station, stated emphatically that the current acting chairman of the NURTW in the state, Alhaji Abideen Olajide a.k.a Ejiogbe, will be sacked for Auxiliary to return.
Ogunniran said, “He is sure the new government in the state will intervene and put their group in charge of the union.”
He argued that it was those who were loyal to the party and government in power that should run the NURTW in the state.
Though, Auxiliary was not on the programme even though he was earlier scheduled to appear, he however said in a telephone conversation, that the aides were not speaking for him.
He denied vowing to take over by force.
According to him, “I never said I will take over by force and I never said Ejiogbe must leave because there are rules to follow. But the truth is that the current NURTW leaders were not elected. When the time comes, the law will take its course”.
OYO INSIGHT recalled that the Oyo State governor-elect Seyi Makinde had however warned the union members to ensure that their leadership transition process does not disturb the peace of the state, vowing that there would be consequences for anyone who fomented trouble.
Makinde assured that he would allow the union to choose its leaders and run its affairs without government interference, but will be tough on anyone who tries to disturb public peace in the name of NURTW.
The Oyo State High Court had jailed Auxiliary six years over the June 4, 2011 fracas at a motor park in Iwo Road, Ibadan, which claimed lives of some innocent persons including a final year medical student, Adekunle Oladipupo.
Others jailed with him included Saheed Kareem, Taiwo Tijani, Abu Kareem and Kazeem Kayode.
The fracas occurred as a result of the struggle for the NURTW leadership following the swearing in of Governor Abiola Ajimobi on May 29, 2011.
