Di leadership wahala for National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) don enter new level as police arrest Tajudeen Baruwa, di man wey court say na di real president of di union. Di arrest happen on Monday after Baruwa and him supporters take over di union national secretariat for Abuja, wey dem say na based on court orders from National Industrial Court and Court of Appeal.
Baruwa, wey address journalists before di arrest, talk say him action na to carry out court judgments wey affirm am as legitimate president of NURTW. Him explain say di union don notify police with copies of di court rulings to help dem recover di secretariat, but di response from security authorities no encourage dem. “Dem body language no show say dem dey support us despite our promise say we no go cause trouble,” Baruwa talk. “We be law-abiding union wey just wan collect wetin belong to us.”
Di union General Secretary, Suleiman Musa, also talk say those wey dey occupy di secretariat before refuse to comot despite many appeals. “We don tell police say by court order, we dey come back to our office today,” Musa talk. “We happy say journalists dey here to witness am so di world go know wetin dey happen.”
Di crisis begin from when Baruwa oppose di inauguration of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, as president of di union. Court records show say National Industrial Court affirm Baruwa as di duly elected president for March 2024 judgment, and Court of Appeal uphold di decision for November 2024, dismiss appeal from MC Oluomo loyalists and award costs against dem.
Despite di court judgments, di wahala for di union continue, with both Baruwa and MC Oluomo factions dey claim say dem be di real leaders. Di tension reach peak on Monday when Baruwa supporters enter di national secretariat, remove and destroy portraits of MC Oluomo wey dey hang for di office.
Police wey respond to di situation arrest Baruwa, even though court order dey say na him be authentic chairman. During di incident, reports say one supporter of Baruwa faction get gunshot wound when security operatives try to disperse people for di secretariat. Police deny say dem shoot any NURTW member, but details about di shooting still dey unclear.
Di NURTW don dey inside leadership crisis for over two years now, since di disputed delegates conference wey suppose produce new national officers. MC Oluomo, wey be All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, don continue to occupy di union national secretariat throughout di period, despite di court judgments wey favor Baruwa.
Monday development don raise fresh concerns about law and order for Nigeria, and di role of security agencies for managing such crisis. Many people dey ask why police arrest Baruwa wey court say na legitimate president, instead of help am enforce di court orders wey dem get.
Di situation show how leadership tussle for transport union dey affect peace and stability for Nigeria, especially as NURTW control many motor parks across di country. Di union members dey important for transportation sector, and any crisis for dia leadership fit affect commuters and business activities.
As di matter dey now, Baruwa remain for police custody while him lawyers dey work for him release. Di NURTW crisis continue to dey watchful matter wey need quick resolution to prevent more violence and maintain peace for di transport sector.
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