BENIN CITY-The Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Edo State Chapter, Comrade Odion Olaye has debunked reports allegedly orchestrated by one Mr Warriman Erhengbo that the union has endorsed the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Comrade Olaye stated this yesterday while reacting to the visit of a group which claimed to be members of NURTW and led by one Comrade Warriman Erhengbo as its chairman in the state to the PDP candidate at the party Secretariat in Benin City, last Tuesday.
He described the group as impersonators and advised members of the public to disregard them and their endorsement of the PDP gubernatorial candidate pastor Osage Ize-Iyamu as the state NURTW is fully behind Mr Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He however maintained that he was sworn in and issued certificate last month as the Edo State Chairman of the NURTW by the union national President Alhaji Najin Usman Yasin and the General Secretary Comrade Clement Wesco.
“After my swearing-in we all went to pay a courtesy visit on Governor Adams Oshiomhole. So I am shocked when I read about somebody saying NURTW is supporting Ize-Iyamu. If Warriman and his group want to play politics, they should not do it with the name of our law- abiding union”. Comrade Olaye stated.
While calling on the state Commissioner of Police Mr Chris Ezike to arrest Comrade Erhengbo for impersonating NURTW in Edo State, Comrade Olaye debunked the report that the union activities were banned by the state government.
“And it is also not true that the state government banned our association in the state. We are working in collaboration with Road Employers Association in rural areas. We have a 40/60 per cent agreement”. He stated.
Comrade Odion Olaye who said he only know Mr Warriman Erhengbo as a security man at Egor however challenged him and his group to come out with documentary evidence as leaders and members of the state NURTW.
Contacted on the telephone, Comrade Warriman Erhengbo stated that he is a full member of the NURTW just as he promised to speak more on the issue, another day.
