National leadership of the Roads Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has clarified the association’s position in Edo State, stating that there was no vacuum in the association’s leadership as Mr Charles Momoh is legally recognised chairman of the association.
The transport body also noted that Momoh would soon resume office over his predecessor, Sunday Erhahon, who was said to have resigned his position due to health reasons.
The Association also said that Osakpanmwan Eriyo, who is alleged to be angling to take over the Association in the state, has served as state chairman in the past and later national president of the Association. He is no longer a member of the Association as he has been allegedly expelled from it.
Speaking to journalists in Benin City, on behalf of the National President of RTEAN, Alhaji Musa Muhammed, the Deputy National President, Planning and Logistics of the association, Comrade Richard Aimienoho, said the current occupant of the state chairmanship position, Monday Orhue who he said was imposed on the association by the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration has agreed to step down on the 12th of November.
He said stepping down would pave the way for Momoh to continue the truncated tenure, and “after completing the tenure of Sunday Erhahon, he can contest to begin his own tenure.”
“Eriyo, who forcefully installed himself as the national president, was removed by the Industrial Court because his assumption of office did not follow the constitution of our association, and the court reinstated Alhaji Musa Muhammed.
“The RTEAN is made up of mature people, and we follow our constitution. The moment Eriyo lost his case in the Industrial Court, he was expelled from the association. Hence, what we heard recently is that some people went to attack people in a public place in the name that a new government is coming is wrong and not from us.
“We have met and Orhue has already agreed that he will vacate the office on November 12 for Charles Momoh to come in and continue his tenure as the state chairman of the party because Momoh was elected through an election.”
In the suit marked NICN/Abj/278/2019 between the RTEAN and 34 others as claimants and Eriyo Osakpamwan, Yusuf Ibrahim Adeniyi and High Chief (Alhaji) Shehu Musa Isiwele where the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Defendants, Justice O. Y. Anuwe ruled that “It is declared that ascension by the 1st Defendant to the office of the National President of the 1st Claimant was in clear violation of Article 6A2(n) of the 1st Claimant’s amended constitution and it is illegal, null and void”
