Amid internal crisis, South-West NURTW rejects Baruwa for second term

Amid internal crisis, South-West NURTW rejects Baruwa for second term

The leadership crisis rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the South-West zone may cost National President of the union, Tajudeen Baruwa, his bid to return for a second term in office.

Already, some stakeholders of the union in the zone have rejected a purported endorsement by a group of elders to continue in office.

The stakeholders in a statement on Thursday “condemned in very strong terms attempts by some people to impose Mr Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa for a second term in office as president of the union.”

The statement, signed by Alhaji Kazeem Agoro of the Ondo State council and Comrade Taofeek Ayeni from the Osun State council, said Baruwa had brought unprecedented disaster, hardship and division to the union.

It said, “Baruwa has destroyed the union, especially in the South-West zone which he claimed to be representing to the extent that it will require the grace of God and wisdom to restore sanity to the union.

“Presently, no state NURTW in the zone is operating. The activities of our union have been proscribed by various state governments as a result of arrogance of the leadership of the union.

“All the state councils have been taken over by state government-owned Parks and Garages Management Committee. Our union is non existence in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos. And thousands of our members are suffering due to lack administrative acumen on the part of the leadership.”

The stakeholders are reacting to a recent report said to emanate from the caretaker committee chairmen of the union led by one Olalekan Folorunsho from Osogbo, Osun State, pledging support for Baruwa ahead of the election of the national officers of the union.

But the stakeholders said, “It is surprising and unfortunate that despite this gloomy and terrible situation our union finds itself courtesy of Baruwa-led administration, some people because of their own selfish interest are talking of endorsing him for second term in office.

“It is unfortunate that we made mistake of presenting Mr Baruwa to represent our zone despite the fact that we are blessed with seasoned and experienced trade unionists.

“This is the time to correct the mistake of the past. We need to stop Baruwa before he destroys what is left of the union, hence we need to bring fresh hands with fresh ideas on how to move the union forward.

“Presently, our union is seriously sick and at the point of death and if we should allow Baruwa to continue, he will kill the union and bury it.

“It is very clear that he doesn’t understand the workings of the union, but the few people around him are pushing and giving him false hope.

“We, as major stakeholders in South West are appealing to well-meaning members to ignore the attempt by the officers to impose Baruwa on the union.”

Amid internal crisis, South-West NURTW rejects Baruwa for second term