Days after detention by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), the national president of National Union Road Transport Workers ( NURTW ), Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa has been released.
Baruwa who spoke with journalist in Abuja shortly after his release, called on members of the union to remain law abiding and avoid conduct that will lead to disturbance of public peace in their domain.
He said it was a misunderstanding between the leadership of the union and a group of persons over the weekend which led to the deployment of the police to safeguard the secretariat.
Recalled that Baruwa and the former Lagos State chairman of the union, Tajudeen Agbede were detained by the police authority following plans by some groups to stage a protest at the National Secretariat of the union located at Garki 2 Abuja.
He called on members at the state levels to be law abiding and go about their normal businesses without any molestation, adding that the union is working toward resolving the issue in question.
He said the union has remained peaceful over the years and would not allow anything to truncate and jeopardize its track record and successes.
Baruwa also commended the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) under Comrade Joe Ajaero for their quick intervention during the crisis.
He said, ” We want to use this medium to express our appreciation to the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), our members at the state councils and branches for their support and intervention on the issue.
” We are calling on our members across the states to be calm, peaceful and law abiding in their daily activities. We want to assure you that the matter is being addressed and it will soon be resolved”.
He said he has regained his freedom and is no longer in police custody just as he cautioned members against making inflammatory statements capable of undermining the union.
He therefore urged the state chairmen and members to place the interest of the union above their personal interest and work together as a team to uplift the union.
