Akpabio’s 70 buses donation tears Transport Workers Apart

Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and its rival union, the Akwa Ibom Progressive Commercial, Tricycles, Taxi and Motorcyclists Association (APCOTMA) are at war over the 70 buses donated by Governor Godswill Akpabio.
The governor had, during the campaigns, announced a donation of 70 buses to APCOTMA in fulfilment of a promise he made to the union in 2011.
But yesterday, transporters under the umbrella of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) rose from a meeting with a resolution to Governor Akpabio to reconsider his stance and stop the distribution of the buses.
The union threatened to shut down its operation in the state and allow only APCOTMA to operate if the governor goes ahead to make good his promise by distributing the buses.
The state chapter chairman, Comrade Uwen James, said the donation was bad for the integrity of the union.
The chairman, who said the news of the donation of the buses was no longer a secret, as it was aired severally on the state radio and television, expressed surprise at the development.
“It is no longer news that the Akwa Ibom State government released 70 buses to APCOTMA. We learnt that the buses have been given to the chairman, Udo Johnson Okpong. Tempers have risen and reactions have come from various angles. We think there is a missing link; it is either the commissioner of transport is not doing his work or his hands are tight in this matter. The fact is that we are not coming here for a protest against the state government because we know the governor reserves the right to give to whoever he pleases, but we have to use this means to impress on the governor to reconsider the matter,’’ he said.
Speaker after speaker condemned the donation of the buses by the governor, saying they all supported and mobilized resources for his election to the Senate.
When contacted, the chairman of APCOTMA, Comrade Udo Johnson Okpong, dismissed the threat by NURTW to shut down its operation in the state.
“That is a mere political talk and it is not going to work. We control all the motor parks in Akwa Ibom State, and we have our members all over the place,’’ he said.
He said the release of the buses was in fulfilment of a promise the state governor made to his union in 2011, when he announced ban on operation of motorcycles.