Soldiers Deployed In Ado-Ekiti Over Drivers’ Clash

SOLDIERS were yesterday deployed in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital following the clash between factions of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

They were stationed at strategic locations including motorparks, apparently to forestall possible escalation of violence which broke out on Sunday between the factions.

The drivers were fighting over the control of the union’s leadership.

Dangerous weapons were freely used during the clash.

The Union’s National Leadership was said to have set up a fact-finding committee which met yesterday with the aggrieved members. They (members) insisted that the Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Olanbiwonninu (aka Mentilo) must go.

According to them, he has spent nine years. This is against the constitutionally approved eight years, they said.

Policemen who were deployed to stop the violence couldn’t contain it. But nobody died.

While it could not be ascertained who the union resolved to pick as the next chairman, the current excutive council might be relieved of their offices including, the chairman, it was learnt.

Sources, however confirmed that the Fact-Finding Committe had been told that the only solution was for the current leadership to step down.

He said: “We have told them that it is a no retreat no surrender case. Mentilo has to go and that a new set of leadership must be picked. He has been painting all members as enemies of Governor Kayode Fayemi which we have to prove wrong.

“Our Union is not apolitical, we are for any government in power. We are essentially for the people and any government who has served the people is for us. Fayemi has done that. Why then must we be fighting him or working against his interest.

“We have told the Committee this and that Mentilo is the only problem the state has. Once he is removed, our union will move forward. He has been causing divisions, using all manners of deceits”, the source said.

All is now calm in the city.