Fear of forceful take over of parks, garages unsettles residents

Anxiety Grows In Motor Parks Over Imminent Clashes

Tension and palpable fear have enveloped parts of Lagos State over the looming forceful takeover of motor parks and garages by transport unionists loyal to a suspended National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) boss, Musiliu Akinsanya.

While anxiety grows, residents of the state have expressed worries over what they term the alleged poor handling of the feud involving some transport unions, as well as the government’s decision to saddle the suspended NURTW boss, better known as Mc Oluomo with the task of heading its newly formed parks and garages committee.

Tension started brewing in the state after the NURTW suspended Akinsanya indefinitely over alleged misconduct, insubordination, and inciting members of the state chapter against the apex body.

The suspension, those in the know say was not unconnected to a protest staged by Akinsanya’s supporters during which they accused the union’s national leadership of unnecessarily interfering in the state affairs.

The NURTW body also directed Akinsanya to immediately hand over the mantle of leadership to his deputy chairman, and release all property belonging to the transport body in his possession to the state secretary.

Things took a turn for the worse as hours after the suspension, Akinsanya pulled out of the national body and asked the state government to take over activities at the parks and garages, as all attempts to have an amicable resolution with the national body had failed.

He said, “In fact, we have protested to the Lagos State government about the state of affairs in our union. Being law-abiding and responsible citizens, we have decided to explore all avenues for peace in the interest of all. We will not support any action that can threaten the peace that we cherish so much in Lagos State.

“Therefore, I, Comrade Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, on behalf of the State Administrative Council (SAC), State Executive Council (SEC) members and the entire union rank and file members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos State Council with over 200 branches and zones hereby resolve to; with immediate effect withdraw of our membership and operation from the national body of the NURTW for peace to reign in Lagos State, and to write to Lagos State Governor, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation (MOT) and other relevant agencies about our decision.

“It is important to state that our action is in line with Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended, which provides as follows:

“(a) Every person shall be entitled to assembly freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any association for the protection of his or her interests. This means that every person shall be entitled to join an association and exit freely without molestation.”

Akinsanya, however, asked the state government to immediately take over the running of the affairs of the union forthwith by setting up a park management committee to manage parks and garages in the state.

In order to avert a prolonged leadership lacuna, the NURTW National Headquarters dissolved the state chapter and replaced Akinsanya, with Seyi Bankole.

The union in a statement titled, “Dissolution of Lagos State Administrative Council,” jointly signed by its national president, Tajudeen Baruwa, and general secretary, Alhaji Kabiru Ado Ya’u read: “The National administrative council in the exercise of the powers conferred on it by Article 17, section 2. Sub-sections (i) and (ii) of the constitution of the union, during its meeting of April 5th, 2022, have dissolved the Lagos State administrative council forthwith.

“In view of the fact that nature abhors a vacuum and in line with Article 42 section 4, the State Secretary, Seyi Bankole, is hereby directed to take over the running of the affairs of Lagos State council pending the constitution of the caretaker committee after due consultations with appropriate relevant authorities.

“Meanwhile, all members of the dissolved state administrative council are hereby directed to hand over all property of the Union, including cash to the State Secretary.

“On the strength of the above development, therefore, all members of the union in Lagos State and beyond, including members of the public are hereby kindly requested to henceforth stop dealing with members of the dissolved Lagos State administrative council on issues concerning the union.”

Pronto, the state government equally announced the appointment of Akinsanya as the head of a committee to oversee all motor parks and garages within its shores.

A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the setting up of the committee was in fulfilment of the government’s determination to avert any threat to law and order.

“The government has, therefore, exercised its constitutional powers to ensure that no vacuum, which can disrupt the peace of our dear state, is allowed to exist in the parks,” the statement said.

“This is a duty we owe all Lagosians and visitors.”

But rather than avert any threat to law and order, the government’s action actually facilitated a breakdown of law and order as evidenced by last Monday’s clashes between hoodlums suspected to be loyal to Akinsanya, and members of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN).

The clashes, which occurred in the Agege, Ogba, and Fagba areas of the state, stemmed from ticket sales at the union branches that are under the control of TOOAN. They also bordered on the control of parks and garages.

As TOOAN members went about their activities, Akinsanya loyalists suddenly swooped on them in a failed attempt to dislodge them and take control of the parks.

The state chairman of TOOAN, Azeez Abiola, who said that his group has been operating peacefully since NURTW was suspended in the state, added that they were not under the Lagos State Parks and Garages Committee, hence the need for the government to intervene.

Abiola better known as Istijabah, however, added that he had informed his members to vacate the parks to avoid needless deaths.

The Chairman, TOOAN, Branch J, Agege, Opeyemi Taiwo, while also commenting on the attack, said once the group had a wave of the impending attack, it indented the matter at the Pen Cinema Police Station, Iju Police Stations, and at the Area G Police Command.

She added that while the NURTW deals with vehicles, TOOAN’s focus was on tricycle operations, hence the group’s initial belief that it would be invited for a dialogue, but only for “over 100 hoodlums, armed with guns, cutlasses, bottles,” to start “attacking us.”

Even with the “ban” of NURTW activities by the state government, their operatives have remained in some parks and garages, where they are still collecting levies and sundry fees from transporters.

As a matter of fact, these operatives who have only dropped their uniforms, claim to be answerable to the new leadership put in place in the state, by the national body.

As worried residents continue to express fears over unfolding developments, the state police command said it remains on red alert to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order.

Those who spoke to The Guardian maintain that the state government t must jettison politics or pander to the whims and caprices of unionists with vested interests.

According to them: “The safety of the lives and property of residents of the state, surpasses whatever the transport unions are fighting for. Therefore, the government should resist any attempt by transport groups, their backers and other such elements from endangering the lives of residents of the state,” they said.

A commercial transporter operating along the Iyana-Ipaja/Oshodi axis, Lukman Bello, described the development as a serious threat to drivers, as they are always at the receiving end of transport unions’ crises. crisis, with some of his colleagues always falling victim whenever there is any clash.
 
Bello revealed that most drivers have been dealing with both factions with wisdom, in order not to incur their wrath, as both factions are hell-bent on stamping their supremacy.

He revealed that a good number of the NURTW members in the area have agreed to stay put with the NURTW, hence the hostility in the area, as Oluomo’s men are bent on taking over the area forcefully.
 
But Julius Monday, who plies Iyana-Ipaja/Egbeda/Ikotun Road, said it has been business as usual in the area. “The NURTW members have been operating, issuing union tickets seamlessly. They are familiar faces, though they are always in mufti now, there is no tension and threat to peace on this axis.”

But the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benjamin Hundeyin, who allayed fears of any unrest, said the command has put all area commanders and all tactical commanders on alert to ensure that every Lagosian is safe from harassment, danger, and attack.

“I know there were clashes at Fagba and its environs, but we have 20 local councils in Lagos and it has happened in only one place and today (Tuesday), at Ijora which does not call for Lagosians panicking as if there is a siege.

“Lagos is on red alert, especially our Rapid Respond Squad (RRS). They are very motivated now. They have been charged to be on the lookout for anyone who tries disrupting the peace of the state. So, we are not just resting on our oars, we are on the lookout. We are extra vigilant. These couple of days, we are extra vigilant to make sure that something of such does not happen.”

When asked if the police recognise the NURTW, despite the Parks And Garages Committee put in place in the state, Hundeyin said: “We deal with laws. We don’t deal with outdated or expounded laws. We deal with relevant subsistent laws. Activities of NURTW has been banned in the state. I don’t see how we can recognise them. I don’t see how they perceive themselves.”

The state government has made a pronouncement on that regard and it stands.”

But contrary to the position of Hundeyin, the state government said NURTW has not been banned, as the state lacks the power to ban the union, noting that it only banned its activities – collection of levies at the parks and meetings.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso told The Guardian: “It’s not that government ban NURTW, No. Lagos State Government has no power to ban NURTW because union matters are on the exclusive list, it’s not a matter a state government can ban, it can only regulate what is happening within its domain and that is what the government has done.

“The task of the Management Committee is to ensure that there’s no vacuum, so if anybody is dissolving any committee or anything, I do not know about that. Don’t forget where these guys are coming from, they had a structure in place, they had membership in place, if they are making any pronouncement, that is their own, but the government has done what is needed to do to ensure peace.”

When asked if Akinsanya’s appointment does not amount to encouraging illegality, since he was sacked from a similar position by the NURTW headquarters, Omotoso said: “If you have a committee like that and you have an AIG coordinating the committee, what else do you want the government to do?

“What the government has done is not something new, that’s how it happened in Osun, Ondo and even Oyo states. So, what are we talking about? All we are after is peace and I think everybody should give the government some credit and credit the government with some intelligence no matter how little. Government will not behave in a manner that’ll not serve the interest of the people.”