The South West Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Taofeek Oyerinde, fondly called Fele, has died, throwing parts of Oyo State into panic.
Fele was until his death the chairman of the NURTW in Oyo State.
He reportedly died on Tuesday afternoon at the Zenith Medical Kidney Hospital, Abuja, and he will be buried in his house at Elebu, Ibadan on Wednesday morning according to Islamic rites.
National President of NURTW, Najeem Yasin, who broke the news in a special release from Saudi Arabia, directed that Oyo NURTW Vice Chairman, Abideen Olajide, popularly known as Ejiogbe, to replace Fele as chairman of the union in acting capacity with immediate effect.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi has endorsed the decision that Ejiogbe should fill the vacuum created by Fele’s death in acting capacity, saying “I urge our drivers to respect this decision and go about their lawful activities without rancour.”
In a statement issued by Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy to the Governor, Bolaji Tunji, on Tuesday, Ajimobi said he received the news with heavy a heart and utter disbelief, describing the death as a huge loss to the family, the State and the South West. The governor said he was particularly pained because he had lost a dependable ally and purveyor of peace.
There was fear among Ibadan residents when they received news of Fele’s death as many of them made calls to their loved ones to avoid dangerous spots like Iwo Road Interchange, Gate and Molete, suspecting that some NURTW members might embark on violent activities.
Fele officially succeeded Lateef Akinsola (aka Tokyo) in 2011 after years of violent supremacy battle between Mukaila Lamidi (aka Auxiliary) and Lateef Salako (aka Eleweomo).
Eleweomo was killed during a political violence late 2010 at the height of the supremacy battle while Auxilliary is currently serving a jail term for criminal offences.
Fele was chosen to head the troubled union to stamp out violence for which the union was known in Oyo State in the previous two decades.
The deceased started transport business from being a bus conductor in 1975, got his first driver’s license in 1979, became a full-fledged member of NURTW from 1983 until his death.
