Nigeria Content Online

If the threat from
members of the Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road
Transport Workers (NURTW) is anything to go by, the entire landscape of
Oyo State may soon witness an orgy of violence.

That, at least,
was the import of a message from Lateef Akinsola Oluwatoki (aka Tokyo),
reinstated chairman, over the current state of the union in the state.

Mr. Akinsola, in a
letter dated August 30, and forwarded to major traditional rulers and
political leaders in the state, threatened to “reclaim” his “stolen
mandate at all cost.”

The state
government had proscribed the union on August 8, less than 24 hours
after an order to reinstate Tokyo as the authentic state chairman of
the union was carried out. It then directed local councils to appoint
men to collect motor vehicle dues at motor parks.

Rather than douse
the tension, however, the move has further aggravated it as members
loyal to Tokyo alleged that the government only attempted to regain
what it lost openly through the back door.

They alleged that
the appointed park managers are members loyal to Lateef Salako (aka
Elewe-Omo), who took over from Tokyo when he was illegally removed, but
was asked by the National Industrial Court (NIC) to vacate the seat for
him. Mr. Salako is said to be an ally of state governor, Adebayo
Alao-Akala.

Mr. Akinsola
described this as undue interference in union matters by the state
governor, Alao-Akala, and promised to resist it. He accused Alao-Akala
of hindering the rule of law by ‘unilaterally’ proscribing the union.