Osun State Resists Interim Leadership as NURTW Clashes with Adeleke

The national leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers has dismissed the Osun State Government's decision to suspend the union's activities, citing that Governor Ademola Adeleke does not possess the constitutional authority to halt its operations.

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In a separate move, the union has established a seven-member caretaker committee, led by Kazeem Oyewale, to oversee its affairs in Osun State until the ongoing leadership crisis is resolved.

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The state government, however, remains firm in its stance that the NURTW's operations in the state are suspended and will not acknowledge the newly formed caretaker committee.

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The caretaker committee, chaired by Oyewale, who is facing murder charges filed by the state government, was inaugurated at the union's national headquarters in Garki, Abuja.

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This development comes in the wake of a violent confrontation in Osogbo, which occurred after Oyewale's supporters staged a protest against the leadership of the state NURTW Chairman, Nurudeen Alowonle, a supporter of Governor Adeleke.

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The protest ultimately escalated into clashes, with gunshots causing widespread panic among residents.

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Reacting to the suspension, the National President of the NURTW, Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, emphasized that no state government has the authority to suspend the union's activities.

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Represented by the union's Deputy National President, Aliyu Ore, Akinsanya noted that the union was established by law and has previously secured court victories against similar actions taken by state governments.

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Ore stated that the inauguration of the caretaker committee was necessary to ensure the union had a functional leadership in Osun, particularly in light of the forthcoming governorship election.

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The union has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Independent National Electoral Commission for the transportation of election materials, according to Ore.

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In his acceptance speech, Oyewale pledged to take the union to new heights and uphold the Constitution of the country and the union, promising a turnaround in the administration of the union.

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The Osun State Government, on the other hand, maintains that Alowonle and his executives across the local government areas in the state remain the substantive leadership of the NURTW.

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The government has also stated that Governor Adeleke did not dissolve the union leadership or remove any duly appointed officers of the union, as clarified by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Engagement, Kolapo Alimi.

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According to Alimi, Alowonle and his executive were appointed by the national leadership of the NURTW under Akinsanya in line with the regulations and guidelines of the national union, and therefore, there is no vacuum in the leadership of the union.

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The state government has reiterated that the suspension of the NURTW's activities in all motor parks is intended to restore peace, and that the Alowonle-led executives remain the only recognized leadership of the Osun state NURTW.