Edo: Violence looms as NURTW, RTEAN crisis deepens

Posted by admin Edo, State News Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

There is mounting tension in Edo State over the lingering face-off between the National Union of Road Transport Workers Association and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria.

The two groups have had some violent clashes on a number of occasions since Governor Adams Oshiomhole assumed office as the governor of the state in November last year.

His assumption of office followed the verdict of the Court of Appeal on the petition filed by Osunbor against the verdict of the lower tribunal.

The members of the two groups in the transportation sector locked in a supremacy contest had what would have been a bloody clash during the inauguration of the governor at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium venue of the event.

The ugly scenario was repeated penultimate week at Ewohimi, Esan West Local Government Area of the state when supporters of the opposing unions fought with dangerous weapons in the presence of the governor during a launcheon organised by the kinsmen of Oshiomhole‘s wife in honour of him.

Indications of the escalation of the conflict, which centres around the collection of levy from the motorparks in the state, emerged again on Monday when they beseiged the popular Ring Road axis of the city to visit the House of Assembly to honour an invitation by the House Committee on Environment and Transport.

The decision of the House to summon the unions before the committee was based on a petition by counsel to the NURTW, Mr. Peter Uwadiae, to call the attention of the assembly to alleged incessant attacks and abduction of members of the NURTW by members the RTEAN.

The lawyer, who appealed to the the committee headed by Mr. Emma Okoduwa, to prevail on the on the RTEAN to stop the violence perpetrated against the NURTW, said that RTEAN had been invading motorparks thereby causing chaos in the various parks in the state.

The counsel to the RTEAN, Mr. Edoba Omoregie, who denied the allegations of violence made against the RTEAN, said that as the employers and owners of the vehicles at the motor parks, his client was the rightful to collect the dues in contention.

The Chairman of the committee warned that the government would not allow anybody to turn the state into a theatre of war over disagreement involving collection of dues.

He added that the house would look into the ouitcome of the meeting to resolve the impasse.

He warned the fighting road transport unions to desist from any act that could culminate in a breach of the peace while efforts were on to resolve the the crisis by the house.

Meanwhile, a few days after a joint retreat with the Lagos State Government, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, has said that the abhorrent of abandoned contracts would be resisted under him in the state.

-Punch