Vacate Our Headquarters Or Face Showdown – NURTW Warns Agbede

• Kazeem Badmus

Members of the Lagos State Park Management Committee, led by Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, have been warned by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to vacate their National Secretariat.

NURTW said failure to do so could lead to a severe confrontation, OSUN DEFENDER gathered.

The union gave the ultimatum in a joint official statement on Sunday in Abuja by Alhaji Ibrahim Sanda Kuje and Alhaji Saliu Adamu, Chairmen of the FCT and Nasarawa State Councils of the union, respectively.

They accused Agbede and his supporters of an audacious coup d’état, alleging that he had been installed as the caretaker President of the union, thereby usurping the position of the legitimately elected President, Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa.

It will be recalled that Baruwa was on August 25 elected unopposed for a second term of four years.

Baruwa, alongside other national executive members were sworn in during the 10th Quadrennial National Delegate Conference held at Lafia Nasarawa State following their election at the Special Zonal Delegates Conference on May 24 2023 in line with the Constitution of the Union.

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The union leaders likened the seizure of power to a military overthrow, condemning it as an act that should be universally condemned.

“We have had enough of this illegal occupation,” they stated, signaling a hardening of stance against what the union regards as rampant and unchecked posture.

“Toppling of an elected trade union President is similar to a coup d’etat and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians and members of the union.

“The Constitution of the union frowns seriously against the use of any means other than that as prescribed by the Constitution to effect a change in any organ of the Union.

“We have refrained from launching a counterattack, believing that common sense would prevail in vacating the headquarters of the union to allow the authentic President to assume office. However, our efforts have been in vain.

“In light of the above, the officers and members of the union in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa State have unanimously resolved not to stand idly by while impostors continue to occupy the National Headquarters of the union in the FCT.

“We warn Agbede and his ‘gang of hired thugs’ to vacate the national headquarters of the union or prepare for a showdown.”