Kunle Adelabu
-Petitions Gov. Makinde
The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Association (COMTUA), has written to the Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, over what it termed unprofessional conduct, threats and humiliation meted out to its National President and other officers of the association by the Chairman, Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority, Mogaji Akin Fagbemi, over the accident involving its container carrier truck: MSMU 7859355, with the number plate, MUS 238 XN.
The said container truck was involved in an accident recently around Challenge in Ibadan, and was towed from the scene but unable to be totally evacuated due to lack of equipment in the state, according to the petition written to the Oyo State Governor.
In a statement signed by the National President of the Maritime Transport Union, COMTUA regretted and apologized to the Governor whom they also congratulated on his re – election for the second term, and the entire residents of the state for any inconvenience the situation might have caused.
COMTUA’s National President, who claimed that the association was in Oyo State to seek clarification on an account that the union was asked to pay a fine of N850, 000 into, but which does not reflect the agency’s name or that of the state government, and possibly seek waivers among other reasons for the visit to the state, expressed serious concern at the alleged treatment meted out to them by Chairman, Oyo transport agency.
”We have approached the agency. A bill of Eight hundred and fifty thousand naira (#850,000) was issued to us payable to a Zenith Bank Account Number number 1016751601, whose beneficiary is RELIABLE AUTO SERVICES instead of the Agency or State government account”, he said.
“We were concerned by this and sent a delegation led by the President of our association to meet with the Chairman.
“Our purpose of the visit was to express our gratitude and solidarity to the government of Oyo State through the agency, plead for a waiver on the said fine and seek clarification on the account.
“We were disturbed by the level of misrepresentation of your government that the chairman demonstrated”, COMTUA National President said in his letter.
“Apart from being unprofessional, he did not hide his inferiority complex towards LASTMA, when he realised we came from Lagos”.
COMTUA alleged that the said Chairman threatened to beat them after humiliating them in the presence of his female friends, and they were forced to leave the state without achieving their objectives.
‘’This was noted without stress when he kept referring to the agency in every of his statements, comparing structures and operation mode instead of addressing the issue.
‘’We were humiliated in the presence of his female friends in the office.
‘’We were threatened to be beaten by hoodlums and he eventually abandoned our delegation to play Table Tennis within the complex”, he alleged.
“We were abandoned for several hours before we left the premises without achieving any meaningful result.
‘’He was extremely boastful and willing to take laws into his own hands simply because he claimed to report directly to the governor.
‘’He advised us to go to court, while he emphasised his influence on the judiciary”.
COMTUA appealed to the Governor to call the agency’s Chairman to order in the interest of peace and image of the Oyo State Government.
‘’We do pray that you look into our appeal and also consider calling the concerned officer to order in the interest of the image of your administration”, he said.
‘’Such character does not fit the respect and popularity your administration command. We believe very strongly in your administration’’.
The Maritime Transport Union, commended the response and professional conducts of the DPO of Felele Police Station, and the Unit Commander of the FRSC, Toll gate Unit, Lagos-Ibadan express road.
Meanwhile, when our reporter made phone calls to Mogaji Akin Fagbemi, Chairman, Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority, his calls were dropped on three occasions that he was called.
Also, SMS that was sent to his MTN line for his reaction on the COMTUA’s allegations, has not been responded to as at the time of filing this report.
