BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Benin City, Edo, Nigeria – Comrade Austin Nosakhare Uhumwangho, Chairman, Edo Tipper Drivers Association of Nigeria, has stated that the conducts of his members are guided by their constitution and not allegations that are being raised by some individuals.
He added that the current leadership of the association has raised the bar of discipline of his members as it is no longer business as usual.
Uhumwangho noted that those condemning his progressive leadership style were only concerned about their own personal interests.
He explained that his leadership on assumption of office embarked on regular training and retraining of his members as that has drastically reduced incidences of tipper drivers blocking roads and disregard for other road users.
He said further that members of his association are now complying with Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s position that Edo State drivers should conduct themselves in civilized manner in public space.
He, however, advised his antagonists to go to school in order to be qualified for any executive seat in the association.
Comrade Uhumwangho stated this while chatting with our crime correspondent on the recent allegations of tenure elongation, arrest and suspension of some of his members levelled against him by some persons including one Akugie Eromosele Kenneth and Osaro Aigboukean, recently.
He maintained that the constitution of the association is explicit on all the allegations, as the document remains their guide, not the “spurious claims.”
Articles five (5) and nine (9) of the Constitution of Edo Tipper Drivers Association of Nigeria (as amended), obtained by our correspondent, stated that:
“Any elected officer of the Edo Tipper Drivers Association of Nigeria either at the local Branch, State Branch or National Headquarters Level shall enjoy a single term of five (5) years in office.
“For the purpose of promoting good government and welfare of members of Edo Tipper Drivers Association of Nigeria, based on Freedom, Equality and Justice, Disciplinary action will be taken against erring member, either for an indefinite period or for a specific period, or expulsion or the executive of any punishment imposed on the member for such offence”.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the five years single tenure being contested by some members is not new as many executives of the association have enjoyed it.
“It was four years two tenures before, a committee was set up to review the former constitution. The committee came up with this five years single tenure and it has been in practice over 10 years.
“Those that want to be chairman and executive members of our association should learn to be patient and wait for their time, and stop raising empty allegations”, one tipper driver who identified himself simply as Osato, stated.
“On January 28, 2023, Mr. Austin Nosa Uhumwangho, the Chairman of the Edo State Tipper Drivers Association came up with a constitution which he said he had amended to five years tenure.
“On April 27, 2023, he came with another constitution that says that the Chairman is going to be known as president with a five year single tenure.
“We rejected his proposal and the amended constitution outrightly, then he started to witch-hunt us with arbitrary suspension”, Mr. Aigbekean alleged.
