Chaos engulfed Abeokuta, the Ogun state Capital on Monday following a violent clash between two factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers at Kuto, Lafenwa, Obantoko, Ita-Osin Odeda, and other motor parks across Ogun Central Senatorial District.
The conflict underlines an ongoing dispute within the NURTW, a development that observers say requires urgent intervention by the Ogun state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to prevent further breakdown of law and order, especially in the capital city, Abeokuta.
It was reported that a clash broke out when supporters of the NURTW, Mustapha Ismaila Yaro, who some of their members believe were forced on them by the secretary to the Ogun state government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, and Akeem Bodunrin who people believe worked for Dapo Abiodun’s second term bid within Ogun Central Senatorial District.
Earlier this month, the Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo gave a directive that the transport union has been given to 3 different groups as instructed by Governor Dapo Abiodun; NURTW, RTEAN, and OGSPAM. A development that the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi was not comfortable with as gathered.
This week, the OGSPAM team led by Alhaji Iyeru was supposed to start work but the Commissioner for Transportation gave another directive that the union team loyal to the SSG should work again, while technically scrapping the OGSPAM. A move the other transport union considered as empowering the opposition party.
This Newspaper reports that Iyeru and his supporters had earlier revealed that he sought the intervention of the governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Ogun Central Senatorial District Leaders, the Nigeria Police Force, and the DSS to resolve the situation, without success.
We shall henceforth not hesitate to defend our mandate with the last drop of our blood,” The fraction had earlier vowed while accusing Yaro of illegally occupying the State Secretariat of the union according to a video shared by a name called Simple.