‘Inauguration of Oyo NURTW may create conflict with OSPMS’

There is a brewing crisis in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, following the inauguration of an 18-man committee of the proscribed National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), which is now set to resume operations across the state.

National President of the NURTW, Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, who supervised the inauguration at the national headquarters of the union in Abuja on Wednesday, said the inauguration of new leadership of the Oyo chapter of the union was done to pave way for the union at various motor parks in Oyo State.

MEANWHILE, sources close to the state government insisted that the NURTW remained proscribed, saying that some members of the OSMPS were battle ready for any unauthorised body.

ALSO, leader of OSMPS, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi (a.k.a Auxiliary) has insisted that the operations of the NURTW at the various motor parks in the state remains proscribed.

He said the OSPMS was legitimately constituted by Governor Seyi Makinde after the proscription of the NURTW and it remains the only body saddled with the responsibility of running the management of the park system till date.

He said: “The PMS is a body of responsible and law-abiding individuals committed to maintaining peace and order.

“We hereby call on the police and other security operatives in Oyo State to be at alert and ensure that the proscribed NURTW members are put in check and also bring to book anyone found or caught in the act of disrupting the peace and quietude being enjoyed by all in the state.

IN another development, the Acting Regent and Basorun Oyoland, High Chief Yusuf Akinade Ayoola 1, has read a riot act to some traders at Obada International Market in Oyo over a reported plan to foment trouble that may result into ethnic crisis in the ancient town.

The popular Obada International Market, with traders drawn from all the ethnic groups in the country was established by the immediate past late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111.

The Regent was quoted in a statement saying that Oyomesi and the entire people of Oyoland would not fold their hands and allow disgruntled elements to cause disunity among various ethnic groups in the town.

He said that issues on the market had since been resolved with the Oloja asking for peace and development of the town. When contacted on the matter, Chief Press Sectary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said the Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Prof. Kehinde Sangodoyin, would in the best position to speak on the matter but calls to the commissioner failed as of the time of filling this report.

However, a government source said the ban on Oyo NURTW is yet to be lifted and as such, whatever might have been done in Abuja, is strange and unknown to the law in Oyo State.