Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Kayode Agbeyangi, has warned the immediate past president of the union, Tajudeen Baruwa, against blackmailing the Minister of Labour and Employment, Solomon Lalong.
He was also accused of casting aspersion on the credibility of an ex-président of the union, Alhaji Najeem Yasin.
Agbeyangi gave the warning in a statement obtained on Friday morning, stressing that no amount of blackmail and name-dropping by Baruwa could bring him back as president of the union.
He was reacting to a media report credited to Baruwa wherein he accused the labour minister of taking sides in the union’s crisis.
He said, “You had better wake up from your slumber and face the reality that no amount of blackmail and name-dropping can bring you back as president of NURTW.
“With the successful conclusion of our delegate conference on the 25th of October, our people have spoken and moved on.
“You are now in the past and the earlier you realise this the better for you.”
The NURTW scribe also stated, “To put the record straight, it was Baruwa and his people under the platform of Joe Ajaero’s NLC that took the issue of the NURTW crisis to the minister for intervention.
“But contrary to their expectations, the minister invited the two groups to present their position papers.
“So, after the first meeting, Baruwa and his group refused to honour subsequent meetings called by the ministry. The minister felt one person could not hold the union to ransom; hence a directive was given that we should start the process to elect new leaders.
“The minister as a leader, father and lawyer acted based on the provisions and dictate of our union’s constitution. “He was fair to both parties, but they thought they could cajole and intimidate him to foist him (Baruwa) on the union.”
On his constant blackmails and attacks on the personality of the NURTW chairman of the Board of Trustees and former president of the union, Alhaji Yasin, Comrade Agbeyangi said, “It is very unfortunate that you are today biting the finger that fed you. Alhaji Yasin is your benefactor. God used him for you in 2019; you succeeded him, and you became the union president. “But instead of you to build on the success and achievements of your predecessor, you turned the union upside down. And as elders, they moved in to rescue the union from your grip.”
Agbeyangi advised Baruwa to stop wasting his time and resources on a failed project, stressing that union members had left him behind and moved on.
“You should be sincere with yourself who and who are with you now. Three or four people still following you around are retired staff who are still working as contract staff. So, the earlier you realise that the game is over, the better for you,” he said.
. TheWitness
