Crisis Hits Osun Transport Management, As Faction Attacks, Injures Chairman

Residents of Ilesa garage area of Osogbo, Osun State capital on Tuesday were thrown into confusion as factions of Osun Transport Management System, OSTMS, engaged each in supremacy battle.

Dwellers and shop owners at Ayepe, Sadiat, Ilesa garage and Fadilulahi area scampered for safety as hoodlums shoot sporadically into the air at the State Secretariat of the group.

The aggrieved faction led by Wasiu Arogundade temporarily took over the state Secretariat for a few hours after which the main group mobilized to take back the office after exchange of gunshots.

Few minutes after the brawl, security operatives, including Police, DSS, Amotekun and Vigilante were stationed around the Secretariat to maintain peace and order.

Speaking with journalists during a peaceful protest at Olaiya area, Wasiu Arogundade, Deputy Chairman, Operations, accused the OSTMS Chairman, Nurudeen Wakili, popularly known as ‘Alowonle’, of extortion and high handedness.

His words, “Alowonle used the name of Governor Ademola Adeleke and his elder sister, Yeye Dupe Adeleke-Sanni to extort us. During the burial of Yeye Dupe’s husband, we contributed N1.6million and during the Governor’s chieftaincy title, he collected N150,000 from each branch.

“He bullied members whenever we advised him on union issues. Besides, he does not remit ticket sales to government appropriately. He only remitted N150million out of the N600million given to us so far. For these reasons, we want him replaced as we have lost confidence in his leadership”.

Reacting, Wakili, who was being treated for several cutlass wound, disclosed that the allegations against him were all lies saying the aggrieved group were dissatisfied with his decision not to return the transport management system to National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, were their allegiance belonged.

“It is simply impossible to collect money for Yeye Dupe’s husband burial or Governor Adeleke’s chieftaincy conferment when they were not members of transport union. They should disclosed who collected the money from the branches. Branch chairmen are still alive they can speak about it as well. If they were protesting those issues why the attack on me? They attempted to kill me and we handed over one of those who attacked me to the police for investigation.

“Their claim is simply an attempt to bring back NURTW with a view to antagonising the Adeleke’s administration in the state”, he added.

Also the Secretary of the union, Mukaila Popoola, disclosed that some of the aggrieved members led hoodlums to burgle the Secretariat and carted cash sum of N6million mean for the salary of branch chairmen while environment ticket worth N450,000 was also looted within the shot time they invaded the Secretariat.

“If they were protesting sincerely why burgle our Secretariat and carts away N6million in cash and ticket worth N450,000. Besides, how can a state government release ticket worth N600million to us and would not complain if we siphoned the expected return.

“In actual sense, Arogundade was the one going round branches to extort members and was suspended for his actions. He was recently pardoned following intervention of the chairman for the sake of peace.

“One of the hoodlum who attacked the chairman was arrested and handed over to the police and we have also launched official complaint against those that invaded the Secretariat to commit crime within”, he added.

Meanwhile, Osun state police command’s spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola said the command has deployed personnel to the scene to maintain peace and order.

Vanguard