Osun NURTW members protest, pass vote of no confidence in Alowonle

By Sunday Oguntuyi, Osogbo

Members of a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Monday staged a protest across major motor parks in Osogbo, Osun State, declaring a vote of no confidence in the leadership of Nurudeen Alowonle.

The protesters alleged that Alowonle had betrayed the confidence reposed in him and accused him of actions they claimed had disrupted transport operations and posed security risks across the state.

According to the demonstrators, the alleged activities of Alowonle and his associates have affected transportation businesses, with many commuters reportedly losing confidence in the safety of public transport services.

The protest, which began at about 6:30 a.m., spread across major motor parks in the state capital, with participants carrying placards calling for Alowonle’s arrest and improved security at motor parks throughout Osun State.

The protesters also temporarily disrupted activities at some parks, urging passengers and transport operators to vacate the premises while they demonstrated against what they described as the deteriorating security situation.

Addressing journalists, the factional Secretary of the NURTW, Alhaji Fatai Oyegoke, alleged that Alowonle’s actions had crippled transportation businesses in the state.

He claimed that the leadership crisis within the union and its alleged political undertones had negatively affected the livelihoods of transport workers and warned that the situation could further threaten peace in the state if not addressed.

“We are calling the attention of the Inspector-General of Police to the crisis in the NURTW in Osun State. We can no longer carry out our transportation business, which is our only source of livelihood,” Oyegoke said.

He further alleged that Alowonle and another individual, Sikiru Oyeniyi, popularly known as Ado Igbonna, were responsible for recent violent incidents that had heightened insecurity in motor parks across the state.

Oyegoke called on the police and other security agencies to intensify efforts to investigate the allegations, secure motor parks and ensure the safety of transport workers and commuters.

Also speaking during the protest, the Director of Mobilisation of the Local Government Development Initiative (LGDI), Comrade Omololu Abidoye, urged security agencies to take urgent steps to restore peace.

He said allegations surrounding recent killings and attacks should be thoroughly investigated, stressing that the safety of residents and the protection of public infrastructure should take precedence over political or union interests.

Abidoye added that those found culpable after investigation should be brought to justice in the interest of public safety.

Similarly, the factional Secretary of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Osun State, Akeem Kareem, accused the state government of handling the union’s affairs in a partisan manner.

He alleged that members who were not aligned with the ruling party were being treated unfairly and claimed that many members had lost confidence in the leadership of the state chairman, Comrade Jelili Abioye.

The allegations made by the protesters had not been independently verified, and Alowonle and the other individuals mentioned had not responded to the claims as of the time of filing this report.