Ex-Chairman of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Barrister Samuel Agbede, has denied involvement in the last Tuesday violent protest which left scores injured in Ado-Ekiti.
Agbede in a chat with newsmen said he refused to partake in the union’s matter after his voluntary resignation on July 20, 2018 as the State Chairman of RTEAN.
He explained that arrest of one of the RTEAN leaders and former State Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Olabiwonnu, by the police actually caused the row.
He said a caretaker committee, led by Mr. Ola lean Amusan, from RTEAN headquarters in Abuja, has been in charge of the union since he bowed out, saying those trying to forcefully take over leadership roles should be arrested, rather than linking him to the crisis.
The RTEAN boss said he decided to quit willingly as the State Chairman when it was obvious that the group loyal to Olabiwonnu (aka Mentilo) was allegedly desperate to hijack power and cause mayhem, which he feared could lead to death of innocent souls.
“I was shocked and embarrassed to learn that my name was mentioned in the leadership tussle in RTEAN. If I was interested in position, would I have resigned as the State Chairman? I valued my name and integrity and that was why I took that step.
“What led to the crisis was the arrest of Mr. Olabiwonnu by the police following attacks by his group on three members of the Caretaker Committee suspected to belong to another camp.
“It was those that were attacked that reported to the police leading to Olabiwonnu’s arrest. It was this arrest that made his supporters to be destabilizing the town, so I have no hands in it.”
