‘Enough Is Enough’, NURTW asks Agbede-led group to vacate national secretariat

The National Union of Road Transport Workers  (NURTW) federal capital territory (FCT) and Nasarawa state councils have warned the members of the Lagos State Park Management Committee led by Tajudeen Agbede to vacate the national secretariat of the union or prepare for a showdown.

The union said ‘ enough is enough’ as it can no longer fold its hands and allow “impostors” to continue to occupy and take over its national secretariat.

This was disclosed in a statement jointly signed by Ibrahim Sanda Kuje and Saliu Adamu, chairman FCT and Nasarawa councils of the union respectively on Saturday in Abuja.

The NURTW called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to call Agbede to order to avoid looming bloodbath, adding that no person or group has monopoly of violence.

According to the statement: “The entire leadership and membership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW  ) were jolted by the commando style of attack unleashed on the Headquarters of the union by hired thugs on Monday 28th August 2023, wherein Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede was illegally installed as caretaker President of the union, in place of a legitimate elected President in the person of Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa.

“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 restrained ourselves from launching a counter attack, believing that common sense will prevail with a view to vacating the headquarters of the union to allow the authentic President assume his office, all to no avail.

“In view of the foregoing, the officers and members of the union in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT ) and Nasarawa State have unanimously resolved that they will not fold their hands and watch impostors continue to occupy the National Headquarters of the union in FCT.

“The statement while sounding a note of warning to the former President of the union, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin to tread with caution and desist from acts of illegality aimed at destabilizing the union which he has benefited more than any of the past leaders.

“He has been using the police to harass and intimidate us claiming that the Inspector General of Police is his personal friend and brother.  This has to stop forthwith. The union is not a personal enterprise of Najeem . He has done his bit as President of the union, he should allow the incumbent President, Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa to BREATH.

“Finally, we are warning Agbede and thugs to vacate the national headquarters of the union or prepare for a showdown.   We once again appeal to the Police and other security agencies to do the needful to avert the looming bloodbath.

“Meanwhile, the Union welcomes with open arms, all those who joined park management and now wish to return to the fold of the Union.”