Ondo NURTW celebrates Ogun Festival, Wants Gbenga Ijalade Confirms As State Chairman
.. as Deji of Akure prays for peace
By Collins Dupson
The members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Akure on Saturday celebrated 2021 Ogun festival amidst glitz and glam across the branches in the state capital.
The Ogun festival was celebrated peacefully as no member of the public was molested nor sound of gun shot was heard unlike previous festivals that resulted in casualties.
Ogun festival is an annual event celebrated across the 18 local governments by drivers who see the day as a period to appease the god of iron and also offer prayers against accident and other bad occurrences.
PATH reported that, at each of the union branches in Akure, members were seen cutting dog which is one of the materials use in worshipping Ogun among others items.
Speaking with newsmen, the former deputy state chairman of NURTW, Comrade Gbenga Ijalade commended the peaceful conduct of members, saying this is new era among drivers in Ondo State.
He stated that, gone were those years that NURTW is tagged with thuggery and violence, adding that with the new leadership of the union under caretaker, drivers are more organized and shun anything that can bring violence and disunity among them.
One of the strong leader of the union, Eniba thanked Governor Akeredolu for the leadership roles played on the activities of NURTW in the state, noting that if the governor did not take active steps in suspending the Idajo led state executive, Ondo state would have be chaotic.
He condemned inhuman and selfish treatment that Comrade Jacob Adebo Idajo meted to the members of state executives and some notable leaders of the union who gave him needed support to ascend the leadership of the union at the state chairman.
Eniba appealed to the governor to fastback all the process that will handle the leadership of the union to the people’s choice, Comrade Gbenga Ijalade, saying the union ex chairman (Idajo) single handedly corner the resources of the union without carrying his deputy along.
In the same vein, Eba disclosed that Idajo era has gone and it is now the turn of Comrade Ijalade to take over with the support of Governor Akeredolu, Mr Talk and Do whose tenure has brought tremendous changes to the state.
Speaking in a separate interviews, the Benin, Akoko, Abuja/Kaduna,Okene, Lagos chairmen expressed their views on the sacking of Idajo from office, saying the best man for the job of state chairman is Comrade Gbenga Ijalade.
They said his leadership at the state level will bring harmony and peace to the union.” 100 percent drivers in the state are rooting for comrade Gbenga Ijalade to become the state chairman. Idajo is gone forever and this is new era, new NURTW. Our governor should do the needful on time because history will remember his positive impact in the life of drivers union in Ondo State”.
