S-East: Why we stopped the inauguration of NURTW Heavy Duty, Light Trucks in Enugu – Uchehara revealed

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

The National President of the Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Heavy Duty and Light Trucks who spoke through the deputy general secretary, Frank Uchehara at the weekend explained why the inauguration of coordinators of the Southeast states of the union was stopped.

Uchehara alleged that the five Southeast States coordinators of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Heavy Duty and Light Trucks did not identify with the national body of the union.

The Nations News Nigeria, reports that the inauguration of the five Southeast States coordinators would have taken place at Dragon Recreation Centre, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Enugu State.

Deputy General Secretary, (Mass Transit/Heavy/light Trucks Department), comrade Frank Uchehara, who represented the National President, had after hearing the submissions of majority of the Southeast chairmen that the coordinators never familiarized or identified with them, pleaded that the supposed inauguration be stopped for talks on unity and togetherness, and he granted their plea.

He stressed the need for all the five Southeast coordinators to know their state chairmen as they can not operate in isolation of the chairmen to avoid giving room for intruders who may work contrary to the rules and regulations guiding the union.

Flanked by the National vice President, Chief Anthony O. Ewa, Chief Augustine Udeozor, (father of Southeast), Chief Matthew Asigwe, deputy National treasurer, Hon. Samuel Udeh, National Trustee/Imo State chairman, among others, the National President while postponing the inauguration directed the five Southeast states coordinators to put their house in order on or before the end of one month for them to be inaugurated.

Recalled that the Southeast coordinator, Rogers Uche Nebuwa, (a.k.a. Sule Man Dan Sokoto), had earlier pleaded to the National body to forgive the five Southeast coordinators and inaugurate them but his plea fell on deaf ear.

Addressing newsmen later, Nebuwa said that the resolve of the National body to postpone the inauguration was done in good faith as it would usher in harmony and unity between the state chairmen and their coordinators.

“What the National President said is the truth, as far as state coordinators are concerned, we are under the State chairmen. I am not the one to go and meet the state chairmen/councils but them, the state coordinators.

“I agree with the national body and by the special grace of God within two weeks from now we will negotiate with the state councils,” Nebuwa affirmed.

Speaking on behalf of the five Southeast coordinators Raymond Eze, from Imo state, admitted that the inauguration was postponed because they did not put their house in order.

“I regret the shift because we have spent time and money preparing for this aborted inauguration. The shift to about one month will assist us to unite and identify with the state chairmen,” he assured.

The Coordinator/Deputy coordinator for Anambra state, Chinonso unamba, said that the essence of the postponement was for the state chairman and coordinators to work as a body adding that it is a welcome development.

He commended the National body for her intervention stating that a stitch in time saves nine than to start making amendments over a spoilt milk.

Also the Operational Head, Southeast zone, (a.k.a. war material), comrade Ekene Okwute Joseph, said, ” The shift is a good thing to help us unite and ensure drivers work in harmony with those in the field.

“This is to make sure there is peace and order along the road, there will be no diversion, we must move forward as partners in progress. So our fathers advised well by shifting the inauguration for us to get united with our state chairmen,” he stated.