The Federation of Oyo State Students Union, (FOSSU) has urged the governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde to be diligent in selection of the state chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to avoid repeat of the violent of the union which claimed life of the National Association of Medical Students in Iwo-road, Ibadan in 2011.
The union urged the governor to consider security of Oyo State students and other residents in any decision he is taking about the union chairmanship position.
The National Senate President Arm of the Federation of Oyo State Students Union, (FOSSU) Wasiu Oke who disclosed this at a press conference in Ibadan on Wednesday noted that activities of the NURTW members from the past until recent time was deadly.
He said there is a need for governor Seyi Makinde to think deep in appointing the chairman of the union in the state to avoid breakdown of law and order.
According to him, “Some of the tussles in the past have claimed many innocent lives. The negative effects of the June 4, 2011 leadership battle cum factional clashes by a forceful take over attempt by some elements purpotedly led by Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi a.k.a Auxiliary and Alhaji Lateef Akinsola a.k.a Tokyo remain indelible in the mind of those who lost their relatives, friends and medical students union to unfortunate incident that killed one of us, the National President of the Nigerian Medical Student Association, Mr. Auwal Shanono.
“This unfortunate incident would have repeated itself few months ago at various parks in the state if not for the immeasurable discretion of governor Makinde to curtail the rising tension.
“In as much as political neutrality of the students union cannot be ruled out, it won’t equally make it be a party to leadership that poses a serious threat to the security of lives and property in the state. Any individual, irrespective of his status or affiliation, with criminal records, is not suitable to assumed a leadership position in any state governed by the dictactes of the law. Any person that will be the chairman should be a person of clear record, because making a wrong appointment from one of the warring camps may further heat the already calm polity.
“We advise the governor to think twice before choosing the union leadership because of security threat the state has witnesed in the past. We commend the first few weeks of the governor assumption of office, it is obvious that the people of Oyo State did not make the wrong choice of his leadership.
“It is highly commedable as you doused the tension and insecurity that has heightened as a result of the recent leadership crisis of the union.”
Editor, South-West,
Lagos Post Online
Email: raji_adebayong@yahoo.com
M: 08034094059
