ABEOKUTA – The Ogun State Unified Truck Owners and Drivers Association (OGSSTUDA) has dissociated itself from one Moruf Bello, popularly known as (Kaka) who allegedly had been presented as the chairman of the association, describing him as an impostor and rejecting what it called an attempt to impose an outsider on the union.
The association made its position known during an emergency meeting and press conference held in Abeokuta on Wednesday, where they alleged that Kaka had been presenting himself on social media as the chairman of the association and claiming to have the backing and recognition of top politicians and transport union leaders in the state.
The Chairman of the association, Mr Isiaka Bamidele speaking through the association’s Secretary and President of the First Nigerian Tipper and Lorry Drivers’ Association, Nureni Ogunsola, the leadership maintained that Isiaka Bamidele remains the authentic chairman of the Ogun State Unified Trucks and Trailers Drivers Association.
Ogunsola posited that the association would not accept any attempt to impose (Kaka) on its members, warning that such a move could create unnecessary tension among truck and trailer drivers in the state.
He also questioned the alleged credentials of Kaka, stressing that the leadership of a body representing professional truck drivers should be headed by someone with practical knowledge and experience of the profession.
He said, “We truck drivers don’t like trouble and we don’t want anyone to cause trouble for us. The government should stop him. We do not want to hear that Kaka is the chairman of our association anymore.
“There is a lot of training involved in truck driving, and this person in question does not even have any truck driving experience. Anyone who does not understand our trade should not venture into the field.”
Ogunsola further warned that the alleged development was already generating tension among some youths, saying the association wanted to preserve the peace that had existed among its members.
“From now on, we do not want to hear about Kaka. Let them not cause trouble for us. Since then, our youths have started flaring up. Various phone calls are coming in, and that is how trouble starts,” he said.
On his part, Alhaji Rabiu Alabede corroborated that Bamidele position as chairman of the association remained unchanged, urging members and stakeholders to disregard any claim suggesting that another person had taken over the leadership of the body.
Alabede said the association had an established leadership structure and that its members were united against any development capable of disrupting the peace within the organisation.
Alabede, President of the Trailer Drivers Association of Ogun State, said the association had enjoyed peace and unity and should not be dragged into a leadership crisis.
Alabede also declared the association’s political support for Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, saying the group had resolved to support his governorship ambition in Ogun State.
He said “Our association has been existing with peace and without conflict. Nobody should come and cause divisions among us. We have been working together peacefully, and we want that peace to continue.
“We are fully behind Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi for governor. We are supporting Yayi, and not any other political party’s governorship candidate,” he said, while appealing to the senator to recognise and work closely with the association.
The leaders appealed to the Ogun State Government to intervene and prevent any action capable of causing division, tension or conflict among truck and trailer drivers in the state.
