The National Union of Road Transport Workers, Abia State Chapter, has reacted to claims that its members had planned to carry out a protest against the ban on their activities.
The Abia NURTW Chairman, Comrade Eugene Job, in a statement issued on Monday, debunked such a plan, insisting that the Union is innocent and not plotting to stage any protest under whatever guise as circulated.
He said, “I was surprised to read and hear this morning that the National Union in Abia State has plotted to carry out a protest against the State Government, over the proscription of the activities of the National Union in the State. I am the State Chairman of NURTW, the Union cannot carry out any activity without my knowledge and I make bold to say that there was no such plot, either by me or by any of my members,” he said.
“Since the very day the Government stopped the National Union from carrying out its activities in Abia State, as a law-abiding citizen, I had told members of my Union to respect the government and her policies as the government is always supreme anywhere in the world. Some few days ago also, members of the National Union in their hundreds paid a solidarity visit to me and my State executive members, while I was addressing them before the press and journalists, I told them to remain peaceful and law-abiding, I equally charged them to remain good ambassadors in this trying times.
“How on earth would I plot a protest or mayhem to disrupt the peace of the state? Of course, that’s not possible. The Governor of the state is not just my elder brother, he’s our father, and we would always support and help him implement whatever policy he believes would help his administration succeed, so, I see no reason to oppose whatever policy the government makes”.
DAILY POST reports that Abia State Government had on Sunday, said it had uncovered plots by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Self Acquired Tricycle Owners Association (SATOA), led by Mr Eugene Job to unleash mayhem on the people of the state under the guise of a protest against the ban on activities of the two groups.
The state government in a statement signed by its Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, strongly warned that the government will hold Mr Eugene Job responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the state under whatever guise.
Kalu noted that security agencies have been placed on alert to ensure the protection of law-abiding citizens and residents, as well as arrest and prosecute anyone involved in the planned unlawful protest.
