Date: 2018-10-09

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has warned it's members across the federation and Federal Capital Territory(Abuja) to resist any attempt to use them as political thugs during the polls.

The union, however, urged members to tell any politician that approaches them for evil deeds to use his family memberss to achieve the unwholesome purpose.

The NURTW National President, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, stated this in Ilorin during the official presentation of 30 vehicles to the branch chairmen of the union in Kwara State.

The presentation was at the instance of Aliyu Issa Ore- led Kwara State Council of the union as a reward to chairmen in local branches, who also received a sum of N40million in addition.

Yasin said the era of the transport union being identified as the ‘armed’ wing of certain political parties had long gone, pointing out that the union was now revered as a professional organisation.

He noted that members of the union reserve the right to belong to political parties of their choice and vote candidates they feel would represent them well in elections as enshrined in the constitution but admonished them not to be used as thugs.

Yasin challenged them to maintain the discipline the union was already known for and shun any conduct that could tarnish its image.

The NURTW boss, however appealed to them to take the advantage of the forthcoming general elections and vote credible candidates at different levels that would cater and represent their interests.

"The 2019 election is at the corner. I’m calling on my members throughout the federation to make sure they get their voter’s card so that they can elect a credible leader to look into affairs of the masses.

"At the same time, they should know that driving is a profession like any profession in the world. By this, they should not allow anyone of them to be used as political thugs during the 2019 election.

"They(members) should be law abiding, and they should not take law into their hands. They should avoid anything that can tarnish the image of this organisation", Yasin said.

On the presentation of vehicles, the NURTW President described the event as a great moment in the annals of the council, saying it would the second time that Aliyu Issa Ore led administration would be presenting cars to branch leaders.

In his address on the occasion, the state chairman of the NURTW, Alhaji Issa Ore, said the council embarked on the gesture to encourage branch chairmen and other executive members to discharge their responsibilities with utmost sense of honesty.

He recalled that 40 Peugeot 406 cars were distributed to branch chairmen during his first tenure and promised to continue to prioritise and uphold welfare of members.