Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Former acting chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Mukaila, on Tuesday said he did not have hands in the crisis rocking motor parks in the state.
He spoke against the backdrop of speculations that he had ordered his followers in the unions to take over the motor parks from the current operators because members of the union that were loyal to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that produced the governor-elect, Oluseyi Makinde, must be in charge of the union in the new political dispensation
Mukaila, fondly called ‘Auxilliary,’ however, called on the Commissioner of Police in the State, Director of State Security Services (DSS) and other law enforcement agencies not to hesitate to arrest anybody found wanting and disturbing the peace of the state.
His words: “Why would I order anybody to go and take over motor parks in Oyo State? I have not and will not order anybody to take over motor parks. We have a way we do our things and not by forceful takeover of anywhere.
“Let me set the record straight. I was the deputy state chairman of NURTW to my late boss, Lateef Salako; I served as acting chairman of the union in the state for about two months before the administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi came on May 29, 2011.
“When Governor Ajimobi took over, Taofeeq Oyerinde (Fele), Abideen Olajide (Ejiogbe), Musa Alubankudi and Tiri Olowoposi came to Iwo Road to take over. We did not resist their take over and they took charge. We are all witnesses to the scenario that installed this current administration; the situation is the same now. They have had their time, it’s our time. I am sure they won’t contest it.
“There is a protocol in NURTW l, which we have all been operating with. You assume the leadership of the union when a party you have a relationship with wins.
“I was in my office when Senator Ajimobi became the governor and late Taofeeq Oyerinde, also known as Fele, Bideen Ejiogbe, Musa Alubankudi, and Tiri Olowoposi invaded our office and sent us packing. We never resisted them because we knew that it’s the tradition.
“Road transport profession is different now. The current chairman knows the rule. During our own time, we abided by it. It is their time; they should abide by the current situation. It is God that crowns and God has spoken.”