Leadership Crisis: Edo Tipper Drivers Beg Obaseki, Oba of Benin To Intervene

The uneasy calm among members of the Edo State Tipper Drivers Association (EDTDA) may soon take a turn for the worse except those in positions of authority quickly step in to resolve the lingering crisis threatening to cause chaos in the body.
At the heart of the matter are allegations of tenure elongation, arbitrary suspension of hundreds of ‘disloyal’ members, reign of terror and dictatorship levelled against the chairman, Mr.Nosa Uwangho.
Determined to press home their demand, the furious drivers Thursday, last week, staged a peaceful demonstration against Mr. Uwangho at Idogbo, headquarters of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area.
Chanting solidarity songs, the drivers who were armed with placards with inscriptions reading, “Members of Edo State Tippers Drivers Association Cry Out Against Oppression, Human Rights Violation.” “Lack of Freedom of Speech & Association,” passionately pleaded with Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba Ewuare II to come to their rescue.
Expressing sadness, Mr. Akugie Eromosele Kenneth said that over 150 members have been suspended from the union and banned from working by a tyrannical Uwangho because of their rejection of the amended constitution.
He said: “We are calling on Governor Obaseki and the Oba of Benin to immediately wade into the matter by inviting all the parties for settlement. The tenure of the chairman is four years and not five as stipulated in the amended Constitution. Our alleged ban or suspension is illegal as we remain loyal members of the association.”
Akugie disclosed that in line with the 2002 constitution of the association, all the past leaders were called chairmen not president just as the document also prescribed for a four year tenure instead of the five years being forced on them.
Also speaking, another driver, Mr. Joseph Idahosa strongly denied attempting to overthrow Uwangho, alleging that a peace parley by the Department of State Security (DSS) ended in a deadlock as the chairman refused to give peace a chance while another one called by the assistant inspector general of Police, AIG Zone 5 on June 6, 2023 also failed as Uwangho was busy arresting members while they were at the police headquarters to honour the invitation.
He stressed: “No Committee was set up to investigate us. We were not indicted by any committee before our suspension. He took the decision singlehandedly. “Instead of engaging him violently, we decided to cry out to the relevant authorities for help. The chief security officer to the governor invited us for a meeting which he refused to attend.”
Mr. Osaro Agbonkean said the development has caused untold hardship to their families as tipper driving is their only means of livelihood.
Uwangho however, dismissed the allegations, noting that his detractors were cultists and trouble makers who were out to violently overthrow him.
He said the controversial issue of five-year tenure was resolved in 2020.