The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Osun State chapter aligned with the ruling Accord Party, and The Imole Campaign Council, TICC, have rejected the purported suspension of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, activities by the Osun ALGON aligned with the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Both groups also alleged that attempts to seize control of motor parks were politically motivated ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
In a statement issued on Monday, the ALGON Chairman, Otunba Sarafadeen Abiodun Awotunde, described the directive suspending NURTW activities in the state as illegal, unconstitutional and without legal effect.
He alleged that individuals claiming to represent ALGON lacked the constitutional authority to issue such directives.
Awotunde said those he referred to as “Yes/No Chairmen” were unlawfully occupying local government council secretariats and had no lawful mandate to speak or act on behalf of local governments in Osun State.
“The attention of the authentic Osun ALGON under my leadership has been drawn to the activities of individuals parading themselves as Osun ALGON. These political actors, who are illegally occupying council secretariats, have no lawful tenure or constitutional powers to issue directives on behalf of local governments,” Awotunde stated.
He maintained that the regulation and administration of the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers fall under the statutory responsibilities of the Osun State Ministry of Commerce and Industry rather than local government chairmen.
The ALGON chairman urged transport operators, union members and members of the public to disregard the purported suspension order, insisting that they should continue their lawful activities without fear or intimidation.
He also appealed to security agencies to uphold the rule of law and address what he described as the unlawful occupation of council secretariats.
Meanwhile, The Imole Campaign Council alleged that violent attempts to take over motor parks in parts of Osogbo formed part of a wider plan by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to influence the forthcoming governorship election through intimidation.
According to the campaign council, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, individuals identified as APC supporters allegedly stormed motor parks in Osogbo in an effort to seize control, creating tension in parts of the state capital.
The council claimed the incident reflected earlier political disputes over local government administration in the state.
“It is no longer in doubt that the Osun APC has lost the Osun people and the only option it is exploring is violence,” the statement said.
The campaign council questioned the presence of security personnel around one of the individuals it accused of leading the alleged takeover, calling on relevant authorities to explain the deployment while urging security institutions to remain impartial before, during and after the governorship election.
The council also appealed to eligible voters not to be discouraged by what it described as attempts to create fear ahead of the poll, maintaining that it remained committed to peaceful, credible and fair elections across Osun State.
DAILY POST had earlier reported that ALGON, Osun State chapter, aligned with the APC had suspended the activities of all transport unions in public motor parks across the state with immediate effect.
The Osun ALGON said it based its action on the worsening insecurity, recurring violence and clashes linked to leadership disputes within the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in the state.
The announcement was made on Monday by the Osun ALGON Vice Chairman and Chairman of East Local Government Council Area, Lanre Balogun, during a press conference on the security situation in motor parks and garages across the state.