The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in South West has warned the outgoing president of the union, Tajudeen Baruwa, to desist from causing divisions among members of the union from various zonal councils in the country
Chairman of the elders’ forum, Samuel Jonah, stated this while reacting to a sponsored solidarity visit by some retirees of the union from North West, North East and North Central.
While speaking during the solidarity visit, Baruwa, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Labour and Industrial Relations, Abuul Bogs, boasted that the five zonal councils would impose Baruwa on the union without the South West involvement
But in response, Jonah said: “We members of the union in South West reject this position. It is a sign of arrogance on the part of Baruwa and his backers to have uttered that statement. South West is part of Nigeria and no one can write the history of the union without making strong reference to South West. NURTW was formed in South West before spreading to other zones. So, it will be unreasonable for anyone to think of removing the South West from the union. It is impossible.
“Again, we would like to remind him that when it was turn of South West to produce candidate for NURTW presidency, we all supported and endorsed him in 2019 to represent us at the national level. As at that time, all the six state councils in the zone were functioning and operating, but as at today, all the state councils in South West have been taken over by various state governments due to uncooperative and arrogant attitude of Baruwa.
“As at today, thousands of our men in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti are jobless and suffering due to the selfish interest of one man (Baruwa).”
He appealed to all leaders and members of the union in other five zones to cooperate with South West to rescue the union from Baruwa’s grip.
He assured them that all the state councils in the region will return to NURTW fold if Baruwa is removed.
“We have endorsed Tajudeen Agbede as our candidate to represent our interest. Let’s join hands to install Agbede as our next president from South West,” he said.