By Yinka Olumide
Alhaji Mohammed Musa, the National President, Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has admonished members and leaders of the association across the country to join hands together to build RTEAN.
Musa made this plea during an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, the union members should show maturity and avoid taking laws into their hands but work hard for the peace, unity and progress of the union.
“Let us come together and build this association. Let us work and give this association a good name. It is not that RTEAN is bad, our problem is bad leadership.
“Anywhere you find yourselves, please don’t fight and don’t abuse others. Let us be peaceful. I urge all members to make peace, keep law and order. We should be ambassador of love.
“I will always look for peace, ” Musa said.
He said that he would uphold law and order and strictly adhere to the constitution of the association.
Musa, who is also the Chairman of the Lagos State Branch of association, said that RTEAN in Lagos operates in only six LGAs and had achieved a lot since he came onboard.
He decried the alleged plundering of the union by some leaders of the association.
“We will not engage in fraud. We shall focus on building this association,” he assured.
Musa said that all NEC officers would get their entitlements at every meeting, adding that help would be render to all states having one challenge or the other.
The General Secretary of the union, Mr Henry Ejiofor, stepped down as the Chairman of the FCT branch.
The NEC passed a vote of confidence on Musa’s leadership, saying all the expelled national officer remained expelled.
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Musa said the leadership crisis rocking the association took a new dimension on Sept 17, with the expulsion of the National President, Mr Eriyo Osakpanwan, by the National Executive Council (NEC).
The RTEAN NEC, which took the decision at an emergency meeting in Lagos, also announced the expulsion of the union’s Secretary-General, Mr Ibrahim Yusuf.
It consequently announced the appointment of Alh. Mohammed Musa, the Deputy National President (Administration) and Mr Henry Ejiofor, the Deputy Secretary-General, as replacements for the duo, in acting capacity.
The NEC said that the expulsion Eriyo and Yusuf followed allegations of fraudulent activities against them and the alleged creation of chaos in some state executive councils of the union
The development worsened the leadership crisis rocking the association with Musa and Eriyo factions claiming the top post in the association.
The National Industrial Court (NIC), Abuja on Thursday set down hearing of interlocutory injunction in the leadership crisis rocking the association.
The court meant fixed two dates for hearing Nov. 11 and Dec. 16. between the claimant, RTEAN and 34 others and the defendants Mr Eriyo Osakpamwam and Yusuf Ibrahim Adeniyi.