Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Monday staged protests across major motor parks in Osun State, passing a vote of no confidence in a factional State Chairman of the union, Nurudeen Alowonle, over allegations that he has become a threat to peace and transportation activities in the state.
The protesters, who gathered at major motor parks in Osogbo from about 6:30 a.m., accused Alowonle of actions they claimed had disrupted transport businesses, endangered the safety of passengers and created fear among transport workers.
Carrying placards with inscriptions demanding Alowonle’s arrest and improved security at motor parks, the demonstrators temporarily halted commercial activities by asking passengers and transport operators to vacate the parks while the protest lasted.
Addressing journalists during the protest, the factional Secretary of the NURTW, Alhaji Fatai Oyegoke, alleged that Alowonle’s activities had crippled transportation business in the state and heightened insecurity across motor parks.
Oyegoke called on the Inspector-General of Police to intervene in what he described as the crisis within the Osun NURTW. He alleged that Alowonle had created unnecessary tension in the state’s transportation system and further claimed that the factional chairman had been linked to arms and ammunition. He added that transport workers could no longer carry out their business freely despite relying on it as their only source of livelihood.
The NURTW factional secretary also alleged that Alowonle and Sikiru Oyeniyi, popularly known as Ado Igbona, were responsible for recent violent attacks that claimed the lives of Adelodun Olamilekan Lateef and others, leading to retaliatory attacks in motor parks across the state.
According to Oyegoke, the situation has forced transport workers to live in fear, while security agencies and other groups continue to maintain daily operations around motor parks.
He appealed to the police and other security agencies to strengthen security around motor parks, protect transport workers and their businesses, and investigate those allegedly linked to the violence.
Also speaking, the factional Secretary of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Osun State, Akeem Kareem, accused the state government of being partisan in its handling of the crisis involving transport unions.
Kareem alleged that members who are not aligned with the ruling party were being unfairly treated. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the current leadership of the union, insisting that members had lost confidence in it.
Newtelegraph