Oyo NURTW in gun duel •As Tokyo takes over

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Written by Oluwatoyin Malik Sunday, 08 August 2010

There was pandemonium at Iwo Road, Gate and Challenge areas of Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday, when opposition groups within the state’s National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) were involved in a clash.

A group suspected to be loyal to Alhaji Lateef Akinsola alias Tokyo was  trying to take over motor parks in the state to enforce the judgement of  the national industrial court which reinstated the embattled NURTW chairman.

The group was said to have moved from Akobo area to Iwo Road, shooting sporadically into the air and driving dangerously round, sending members of the public into panic.

The loyalists moved to Gate area, displaying the same determination to achieve their aim.  It was learnt that the same thing was experienced at Challenge area.

The chairman, Alhaji Lateef Salako alias Eleweomo had on Thursday lost the appeal he filed against the judgement of the industrial court.

Eleweomo had gone to the court to secure a stay of execution of the  judgement which restored Alhaji Akinsola as the chairman of the union in Oyo State.

Sunday Tribune also gathered that there was traffic jam within the city which hindered the free flow of movement as a result of the clash.

Confirming the take-over move, one of the aides of Alhaji Akinsola said the reinstated chairman was on his way to the union’s office at Olomi area where his men were on ground at different motor parks to take full charge.

It was gathered that Eleweomo and his loyalists were not at the union’s secretariat while a court bailiff accompanied Tokyo to enforce the court judgement.

Policemen were also drafted to the secretariat to ensure security and enforcement of the court order.
When contacted, Eleweomo said he was not in Ibadan and was not privy to the happenings in the city.

He said would only comment when he was able to assess what was on ground when he returns.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Baba Adisa Bolanta also told Sunday Tribune that his men were on ground to ensure safety of lives, maintain peace and enforce the ruling of the court.

Speaking on the incident, the Special Adviser to Oyo State governor on Public Communications, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said the government would not do anything to go against the rule of law, appealing for peace to prevail.

According to Prince Oyelade in a telephone interview with Sunday Tribune, “everything would be done to ensure the ultimate protection of justice and the rule of law, so we appeal to the warring factions to sheathe their swords and let peace continue to reign in Oyo State.”

He promised the state government’s cooperation with the police to ensure that the mayhem was nipped in the bud

Every Yoruba is a Thug.