President, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najeem Yasin on Friday declared that nobody or group can take over leadership of the union unconstitutionally.
He made the disclosure at the Oyo State governor’s office in Ibadan during a courtesy call on Governor Abiola Ajimobi .
Yasin led some union chairmen in the south west including Alhaji Abideen Olajide, the Oyo State Chairman on the visit.
The NURTW boss said that all transition at any level of the union would be in compliance with its constitution, calling on members to sustain the peace established under the Ajimobi-led administration.
“Your Excellency, we are here in Oyo State to meet our members and after the meeting, I felt it is important to visit you.
“We want to appreciate you for the peace in the state. Since inception of our union in Oyo State, we have never enjoyed relative peace like the one witnessed under your administration.
“Today, we have forgotten the era of using cutlass and other dangerous weapons to take over leadership of the union in the state,” he said.
Yasin explained that anyone who tried to take over unconstitutionally or violently should be ready to face the full wrath of the law.
He posited that the union was now an affiliate of International Transport Federation, adding that the union has gone beyond brigandage and violence.
According to him, “by August, we would have our delegates’ conference where I will step down for another leadership to come in. In October, we will have the state delegate conferences across the 36 states.’’
The NURTW boss urged members not to take laws into their hands, stressing that the law would take its course on every unconstitutional activities.
In his response, Ajimobi commended Yasin for partnering with his administration in transforming the union in the state and Nigeria, describing the union as a reputable profession across the world.
The governor urged the members of the union to eschew violence and obey their laws in the selection of leaders.
“Our administration came on board when the state was a garrison command. There was brigandage everywhere caused mainly by the activities of NURTW members.
“We promised not to interfere in the activities of the union and restore peace to the state which we achieved tremendously,” he said.
Ajimobi said that his administration did very well by whatever yardstick anyone might intend to use, saying that the height of it all is the peace and tranquility restored in the state.
According to him, “ours is the most peaceful, successful and security conscious administration in the history of the state.”
Packaged by Ojo Peter
