Ondo Govt, NURTW Divided Over Committee On Park Management

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Government has been accused of taking sides in the crisis rocking the State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW), by banning activities of the union in the State.

Following the unending crisis within the union, government had sacked the executive led by Jacob Adebo and suspended collection of any form of levy by NURTW.

However, the same government which sacked the executive announced the setting up of a committee, headed by the sacked chairman to oversee parks in the state.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu represented by his Deputy and Acting Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa has inaugurated the State Motor Parks Management Committee.

He used the occasion to call on the leadership of NURTW in the State to resolve its leadership crisis.

The Jacob Adebo Idajo led 21-man committee has Evangelist Festus Obasoto as Vice Chairman, with Bayode Gbenga as Secretary.

Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Mr. Dare Aragbaye

Aiyedatiwa disclosed that, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN-led government was not insensitive to the genuine concerns about stable peace in the motor parks across the State, hence the establishment of the newly created State Motor Parks Management Committee.

“We are here to witness the inuaguration of the newly established State Motor Parks Management Committee which shall be saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the activities of all commercial vehicle operators in all our motor parks across the State.

“This is with specific reference to the parks hitherto managed by the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) whose activities have since been suspended by the State Government.

The Acting Governor, lamented that the lingering crisis in the State branch of NURTW which has created leadership vacum necessitated government intervention by setting up this committee.

“As a responsible and responsive administration, we could not have folded our arms and allow the ugly trend to persist with its attendant threat to the peace and stability of our beloved State.

“We are therefore left with no option than to set up this management committee which shall take over the running of the affected parks across the 18 LGAs of this State.

“To underscore our neutrality in matters concerning the State Branch of NURTW, the Management Committee we are inuagurating here today, is composed of members of the different factional groups who are willing and prepared to work together with members of the opposing camps.”

In a swift reaction, Members of NURTW in the state protested the suspension of the activities of the union.

In the letter of protest by the union’s counsel, Akinyemi Omoware and made available to newsmen, noted that NURTW is not a mere registered association of a group of people that can be suspended at the whim and caprices of any person in government or persons holding political powers.

The union members threatened that “should any member of the Committee accost and or attempt to forcefully take over the affairs of our client, same would be met with equal resistance.

“It is a Union created by Trade Union Act, a federal enactment and therefore with statutory flavour.”

The union described the park management committee as illegal stressing that, “We are therefore calling your office to abate every wrongful exercise of political powers to truncate legitimate yarning for justice and rule of law.

“It is needless to state that the conduct of your Excellency in totally disregarding the judicial process is by overt and necessary implication calling for the rule of might and brigandage traditionally known with NURTW.

“As a civilized people, we have advised our clients against self-help, confrontation and the use of might; which is the direct consequence of your Excellency’s action.

“It is therefore requested of your esteemed office to restrain your Committee members from causing strife, chaos, commotion and taking steps that can lead to break down of peace, law and order in Ondo State.

“Should your office do otherwise, we shall call on the general public to hold your office, as the Acting Governor of Ondo State responsible for the untoward consequence of these atrocious actions.

“Going by the above backdrop, it is incumbent on your office, as a constitutional government, to restrain the Committee to wait for the Court determination of the pending suit to preserve the sanctity of the Court and the Constitution your Excellency sworn to uphold.

“We do hope that your Excellency, being a product of democracy, will toe the line of peace, democracy and justice in allowing the Court to do its work rather than taking steps that is subjudice and consequently portray the Court as a weak and irrelevant institution.”