•Says Lucky Osesua is authentic National Chairman
By Abubakar Yunusa
The National Executives of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG under the control of Comrade Lucky Osesua has taken a swipe at the parent body for engaging in forum shopping, blackmail, contempt of Court and using sentiments to foist their illegal leadership on the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry as a fait accompli.
The Osesua leadership, which emerged at the election in Abuja, which is the venue prescribed by the Union’s bye law, said the illegal leadership that emerged from a Kangaroo election in Ibadan was desperate to force stakeholders into accepting it.
It said that the illegal leadership could not avail itself legitimacy by serially violating the sanctity of the Branch’s bye-law and other legal methods of conducting Delegates Conference.
According to PTD in a press statement jointly signed by its National Chairman, Comrade Lucky Osesua and its National Secretary, Comrade Humble Obinna Power, on behalf of the entire Branch on Sunday, the election which purportedly produced Augustine Egbon as the Chairman lacked legitimacy ab-initio.
PTD however appealed to the Federal Government especially President Bola Tinubu (GCFR), the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong and other key players in the industry not to seek legitimacy for National executives of PTD elsewhere except the one by Comrade Lucky Osesua and Comrade Dayyabu Yusuf Garga.
The statement partly read:”The union now totters and wobbles as it screeches towards a dangerous and avoidable canyon of dry bones, as its staff members and branch members can no longer recognise their union which has been battered by men and women from the dark womb of time.
“It is not clear if there could be any glimmer of hope to reclaim it from its impending slide to anarchy and total collapse under the current leadership of Williams Akporeha (President), Afolabi Olawale and the Otunba Salimon Akanni Oladiti (National Trustee).
“Government and other industry stakeholders should relate with us as the only legitimate, constitutionally recognised executives of the PTD Branch of NUPENG.
“Once again PTD must be allowed to breathe such that its members could peacefully and conveniently be proud and better for what they are doing as they continue to traverse the length and breadth of Nigeria through distribution and transportation of Petroleum products and supply of gas to Nigerians in their homes, offices and factories.
The statement further explained that this ugly episode started when the power-drunk General Secretary of NUPENG, Mr Afolabi Olawale tried to manipulate and circumvent the bye-law of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG by holding Delegates Conference in Ibadan, Oyo State, contrary to the provisions of the bye-law which clearly gives Abuja as a legally recognized venue for the election.
Yet, in flagrant defiance to Court order, they went ahead and held an illegal Conference despite the Court injunction, which barred them from doing so.
