Stop Malicious Publications Against NURTW Or Face The Wrath Of The Law – National President Warns

LUCKY LAWAL

The National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Prof Ibikunle Tajudeen Baruwa, has sounded a note of warning to the perpetrators of fake information concerning the affairs of the Union in Ogun State to stop or face the wrath of the law.

Alhaji Baruwa, who reacted to a publication by an online news site insinuating misunderstanding between him and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun, also warned whoever that is involved to desist from such. 
He reacted in collaboration with the already established Ogun State NURTW’s new Committee through Prince Durojaiye, a.k.a Uncle Joy, the Ogun State NURTW Assistant Secretary. 

The statement reads: “The attention of the National President of the NURTW, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa and the National Headquarters of NURTW, Ogun State members of NURTW and the people of Ogun State had just been drawn to a malicious publication in the media captioned ‘Leadership Tussle: Crisis looms in Ogun NURTW as Baruwa dares Gov. Abiodun”.

The NURTW reacted by saying that the publication was nothing but blatant lie and evil imagination of the unpopular and unqualified candidates for various posts in the State Council of the Union, who are desperate to hijack the leadership of the Union in the state through blackmail, lies, hooliganism, misinformation and undemocratic means. 

The release, which stated the right of the Union as applied to the union’s constitution, says the NURTW is a duly registered Trade Union in Nigeria and has its constitution to guide its activities which include conditions and processes of elections and appointment of officers into offices from the National President to the least post at the unit level. And every officer and member of the Union is to defend the supremacy of this constitution at all levels.

The Union condemned the act of using malicious publications to incite the Union against the Governor.He said, “It’s obvious that the sponsors of the publication were all out to tarnish the unblemished image, which the Governor had been building for almost six decades by using his name to perpetrate their unlawful acts”.

“Therefore, the National President and the Ogun State Union commend the Ogun State Governor, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, as an amiable and visionary leader, who is known for having passion for due process and doing things in strict adherence to extant constitution, laws, guidelines and regulations.”

“The Leadership of the NURTW at all levels, especially the National President, who is also an illustrious son of the State, has vouched his support for His Excellency to jointly build Ogun State by citing the slogan, “Igbega Ipinle Ogun, Ajumose gbogbo wa ni”.

Bringing to the understanding of the General Public, he stated that the election into the various offices at Ogun State Council of the Union was held on Thursday 12th December, 2019, after the prayer of those who were afraid of democratic process was not granted by His Lordship, Honourable Justice O. A. Onafowokan, Judge of Ogun State Nigeria Abeokuta Judiciary Division, Court 4 holden at Abeokuta on Friday, 4th October, 2019.
It was recalled that after the emergence of the State officers, through the democratic process, these aggrieved group of people went to challenge the outcome of the elections at National Industrial Court (Court 1) Ibadan. Unfortunately, their prayers were not granted and the case was struck out to withhold the standing elected committee on Tuesday 17th March, 2020.

Having failed to actualise their dream illegitimately, they are now using the option of blackmail and misinformation, which should be ignored. 

The Union President is appealing to all members and the newly elected officers in Ogun State Council to remain focused and law abiding while the National Headquarters shall apply relevant portion of the Union’s Constitution accordingly and in due course.

Also appealing to the Government, the members of the Union and the general public, he said, “We implore Ogun State Government, loyal and law abiding members of NURTW Ogun State Council, various Stakeholders and members of public to ignore the publication in its entirety”.