A transport unionist and a Committee member of the Motorcycle Riders Association in the state, Alhaji Taiwo Oseni has advised the suspended Chairman of the union, Mr Monsuru Balogun prominently known as Afuye to desist from parading himself as the head of AMORAN in the state, a move which he described as an affront on the union.
Oseni said by breaching the proscription order and Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) reached by Government’s Committee on Transport in the State, he recommended that Mr Monsuru Balogun should henceforth be suspended.
It was gathered that Gov Dapo Abiodun-led Ogun state government had on assumption of office in June proscribed all transport unions and constituted a Committee to temporarily oversee affairs of the transport unions in the state with a view to finding lasting solutions to the crises rocking almost all the transport unions in state.
Consequently, Government Committee formed various sub committees who are members of all the transport unions, including AMORAN to work with State Committee pending the resolutions of the perceived crises as well as moves to instil discipline and sanity in the affairs of the transport unions in the state.
But, Monsuru Balogun, also known as Afuye, has since going round the state, parading himself as the Chairman of the proscribed transport union. He has also contracted thugs in AMORAN uniforms to tout daily motorcycle riders’ tickets, generating revenue illegally and not remitting it to State government coffers.
Speaking against the irregularities and misconduct of Afuye across the state, Alhaji Taiwo Oseni a member of the committee constituted by government urged government to suspend Monsuru Balogun for running foul of agreement reached when the Sub Committee was constituted, adding that although Afuye is also member of AMORAN Sub Committee, he however lacks the power to act like the substantive Chairman of the Association.
Oseni, made the submission when speaking with the newsmen at Iwe-Irohin Press Centre in Abeokuta on Tuesday, appealed to the State government to urgently arrest the unwholesome and ugly development in the proscribed motorcycle riders’ union, explaining that if such illegal acts of Afuye were condoned, then the lasting solutions currently seeking to resolve the perceived crisis in the union might not work out.
He said “It’s just unfortunate that one Mr. Monsuru Balogun who is just an aspirant for AMORAN Chairmanship and member in the Sub Committee set up by the State government can be parading himself around and even on the radio as an authentic Chairman when the union leadership has been disbanded and elections are yet to be conducted to various elective positions.
“He has forcefully worked against the order of the Transport Committee set up by Ogun state government. Our findings show that Afuye has been giving some thugs different AMORAN uniforms, banners and face caps to tout tickets and generate revenue which they didn’t remit to government coffers. He has also been threatening genuine members who desire to obstruct his hired thugs with charms.
“It is good to note that all the aspirants that are jostling for union chairmanship should with directives Committee and Sub-Committee. They should note that such ambition must also be regulated through some necessary trainings and understanding the rules of the game better with the tutelage of Chairmen that are in the Sub-Committee being setup by the Governor Abiodun.
Alhaji Oseni made an allusion to Alhaji Olawale Ajiboye popularly called MTN, the erstwhile chairman of the union who offered himself to serve in the Sub Committee being an experienced transport unionist purposely of the resolution and subsequent elections to fill the vacant positions at the resolution of the crisis rocking the union.
He explained that despite the experience of MTN in the union he didn’t impose himself but emerged as Sub Committee member to mentor the members of the Committee and ensure that AMORAN is back healthier and better to generate more revenue for government and also maintain a peaceful electoral exercise in the state when the time comes.
“One of our followers known as Igwe on Monday was attacked with charms, including some of our boys in Sagamu, Ijebu-Igbo and Abeokuta South. I am pleading that the Government appointed transport union committee should look into this matter urgently before it goes out of hand.”
“We had some issues last week with our sister union (ACOMORAN) boys in Abeokuta. This act shouldn’t be extended to our sister union to create unnecessary tension in our in Ogun state as a whole Alhaji Ajiboye is the authentic chairman, we know him as a gentleman.”
