By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State chapter of the Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have exchanged allegations over the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the administration of motor parks across the state.
The dispute followed recent violence at a motor park in Ile-Ife and the subsequent directive by the Osun State Government for NURTW factions to vacate motor parks pending the introduction of a park management system.
In a statement on Sunday, the Accord State Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, alleged that the factional National Chairman of the NURTW, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and some APC members were planning to instigate violence in motor parks as part of an alleged attempt to take control of the facilities.
Akande alleged that the purported activities were being carried out through Alhaji Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba, and some members of the APC whom he described as “disgruntled elements.”
The Accord chairman also alleged that Oluomo had issued a new certificate of leadership to Eniba while the tenure of an existing executive was still running, describing the development as unlawful.
The party warned that the alleged development could trigger fresh clashes and undermine the state government’s plan to establish a park management system.
Accord linked its concerns to the recent killing of NURTW member Lekan Ajagungbade in Ile-Ife, saying the incident demonstrated the potential consequences of rivalry within the transport union.
The party expressed support for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s directive suspending NURTW activities in the state’s motor parks and the planned introduction of a state-controlled park management system.
It also called on the Presidency and Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene in the dispute and urged security agencies to enforce the government’s directive that rival NURTW factions vacate the parks.
Accord further commended the Osun State Commissioner of Police for what it described as efforts to maintain peace, while urging security agencies to protect the motor parks against attempts by rival groups to take control of them
However, the Osun APC rejected the allegations, describing them as “ill-conceived, false and fabricated.”
In a statement issued on Monday by its Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, the APC said it had no involvement in the administration of the NURTW and denied planning or supporting any violent takeover of motor parks.
Olabisi urged members of the public and the police to disregard the Accord’s allegations, describing them as unsubstantiated.
The APC spokesman also accused the Accord-led state government of interfering in the affairs of the NURTW, arguing that the union’s administration should not be subjected to political control.
On the leadership dispute, Olabisi claimed that MC Oluomo had already sworn in a caretaker committee in Osun, headed by Asiri Eniba, to administer the union for six months.
He consequently described the reported deployment of the police to take over motor parks as unnecessary.
The APC also invoked Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, in arguing that local government councils have constitutional responsibilities relating to local administration.
Olabisi further maintained that the administration and revenue collection of public motor parks fall within the responsibilities of local authorities.
The two parties’ competing claims come amid heightened attention to security and control of motor parks in Osun following the recent Ile-Ife violence.
While Accord is calling for enforcement of the government’s directive and the establishment of a park management system, the APC maintains that the government should not interfere in the internal administration of the NURTW.
