Warn Makinde Not To Appoint Park Managers – banned NURTW Leaders Tell Alaafin, Olubadan

By Abiodun Ogunrinde, Ibadan

Members of the banned National Union of Road
Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State have
called on the traditional rulers in the state to plead
with the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, to
discard the idea of motor park management
arrangement the government is planning to put in
place.

The union memebers made the appeal during a
meeting held in Ibadan over the weekend.

They noted that the NURTW is an entity totally
different from a government parastatal, adding that the motor park management system introduced by the government is illegal and uncalled for.

Speaking at the meeting, former chairman of the
union, Alhaji Abideen Olajide, popularly called
Ejiogbe, said: “We are appealing to the Olubadan
of Ibadan, Alaafin of Oyo, Aseyin of Iseyin and
other traditional rulers in the state to help us plead
with the governor to jettison the idea of motor park
management arrangement the government is
putting in place
“Let it also be noted that we are not under the
supervision of the state government as we are a
different entity from government parastatals and
agencies. We want leaders in the state to please help beg Governor Seyi Makinde to allow NURTW to carry out its statutory functions.”

Also speaking, Alhaji Waheed Adeniyi Adeoyo
stated that the union has a series of judgements
which made it clear that the state government has
no business in the activities of the union.

“It is on this note that we call on Governor Seyi
Makinde to reverse his government’s decision on
the appointment of park managers across the
state.”

Alhaji Lateef Opeyemi, while corroborating the
previous speakers said: “NURTW in Oyo State still
stands as it has a solid foundation.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on drivers and Okada riders not to give anybody money
beginning from Monday. The people of Oyo State
should prevail on Makinde to allow peace to reign
by allowing NURTW to function effectively.”

In his own submission, Alhaji Abass Amolese,
stated that:“The governor should try as much as
possible to be liberal on this matter. Just as he
can not dictate how the clothes sellers union at Gbagi market run their union, he should not do the same for drivers’ union.

“The governor should not because he want to
satisfy one person infringe on the right of hundreds
of people. If he wants to compensate him for
whatever he thinks he has done for him, he should look for an alternative.”

The stakeholders, however, unanimously posited
that the proposed list of motor park managers to
be officially made public on Monday, if true is an
affront on the proposed peace meeting earlier
called by the government.

“The list is a confrontation to the stance of many
of the NURTW groups and an insincerity of purpose
by the state government. The list confirms the fear
of majority members of the Oyo State NURTW that
the present administration has no capacity to be
fair in the affairs of the NURTW,” Olajide said.

The meeting was attended by all the warring
factions of the union who have agreed to work
together for the betterment of the union.