Tension In Ijebu-Ode Town Over Government’s Silence On Sack Of NURTW Members 

MICHAEL AKINOLA

Residents of Ijebu-Ode town, Ogun State, are in panic mood with apprehension of imminent garage clash over Ogun State Government’s silence on the sacking of some members of the National Union Of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the State. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that on Friday, 11th October, 2024, there was palpable tension across the communities in Ijebu-Ode area of the State following the directives of the State Acting Chairman of NURTW, Alhaji Ismail Mustapha Adewale (a.k.a Yaro), sacking some members of the union.

The directive by Alhaji Adewale (a.k.a Yaro) to dismiss targeted members said to have the backing of Nigeria Police and Military, will take effect on Monday 14th October, 2024 and the Ogun State Government is yet to react over the imminent crisis awaiting the said unpopular decision by the NURTW Chairman.

One of the affected members, Hon. Aremu Babatunde, who is the Youth Leader of the State Ruling Party, APC, popularly Known as Governor Son, said that the directive was politically motivated to ridicule him and hence they brought the Nigeria Police and the Military to meddle into union’s matter.

He said the directive was intended to work against his political stand in the State because his position in the union’s activities has been in the know of the State Government and its quietness is yet to be understood since the fighting began.

Hon. Aremu Babatunde said though the political stability and peace of the area topped his priority, but his dismissal is considered to be ridiculous and a stab at his back by Alhaji Ismail Mustapha Adewale (a.k.a Yaro), who has singlehandedly been milking the Union members uninterrupted since he became the Chairman of the union.

Hon. Aremu Babatunde further said that while awaiting the final decision of the State Government led by the amiable Governor,  His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun, it should be public knowledge that those members plotted to be dismissed have already put all their arsenals at work in preparation for the success of the upcoming Local Government Election slated for November 2024.

The Governor Son said that the dismissal is not only dispirited but humiliation of the highest order. He said that before the lifted ban on National Union activities by His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun, the leadership of OGSPAM by Alhaji Bodunrin Iyeru has been peaceful and lacking victimization of any of such.

The sacked members are calling for the intervention of the State Government on the matter so that peace will return to Ijebu-Ode town and its environs.