The Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole
has announced an indefinite suspension of revenue collection in motor
parks in three local government areas within Benin metropolis.
The suspension order in motor parks in
Ikpoba-Okha, Egor and Oredo local government areas, followed clashes
between drivers' unions in the state capital within the last few days,
which have left no fewer than five persons severely injured.
Trouble started when members of the
Drivers Welfare Scheme (DWS) and a revenue collector for Oredo local
council led by one Tony Kabaka, tried to stop the Road Transport
Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) from collecting dues at
motor-parks in the state.
Ten persons allegedly sustained various
but varying degrees of injuries last weekend, when members of the
different factions engaged themselves in a brawl before security
personnel took control of the situation.
Fighting however broke out again the
following morning when members of the Drivers' Welfare Scheme attempted
to stop commercial bus drivers from picking passengers in the different
motor parks as a way of protesting the presence of RTEAN in motor-parks.
Some of the commercial bus drivers loyal to RTEAN however resisted the
DWS members' move, which eventually resulted into a shoot-out.
The melee that ensued paralysed
commercial activities at the New Benin area including Mission Road as
traders locked up their stores for more than four hours for fear of
being hit by stray bullets.
It took the combined efforts of the
soldiers and policemen to put the fracas under control and pedestrians
were made to raise their hands up before passing.
Following this, the drivers later
carried placards in protest of the action of DWS, saying that the only
union they recognised is RTEAN and that nobody can force them to buy
ticket from National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Leader of the protesting drivers, Lucky
Aideyan Ukpomwan said trouble started when they resisted moves by state
chairman of DWS, Henry Okaka to stop them from carrying passengers.
"This matter is not our issue. The
former president started telling us not to work today and we asked why,
he told us the leader has said so. As far as we did not hear from
Oshiomhole, we said we must work. Today we were working, we saw some
thugs who are not drivers and they started shooting and beating us.
"We want to know why NURTW is forcing us
to buy their ticket. Kabaka has been collecting ₦700 and ₦1,000 instead
of the approved ₦100 for cars and ₦200 for buses. We have dissolved the
Okaka executive. He always told us to support NURTW. If Oshiomhole want
NURTW to join us, he should say so."
But Mr Okaka said they went to the motor parks to stop RTEAN from selling tickets to drivers when they were attacked.
"Our drivers resisted them and they
started beating them. RTEAN has been banned and it remained banned from
operating in the state."
State publicity secretary of RTEAN, Ben
Okpokunu said only an act of parliament can stop them from operating in
motor-parks. He said they were out to collect their statutory union dues
from the members when they were attacked.
A press statement by the special adviser
to Governor Oshiomhole on Media, Tony Iyare said that the suspension
order is to allow peace and order to prevail.
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