By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin City
Tipper Owner Association,TOA, Edo State Chapter, has accused the Attorney General of Edo State , Barrister Henry Idahagbon of allegedly subverting Governor Adams Oshiomhole directives as the recognized Union to operate in the state following the battle of supremacy between the body and the Tipper Drivers Association,TDA,whilst the later certified the provision of law as required by the state government.
The Comrade governor had earlier disbanded the Tipper Drivers
Association over non compliance of licence registration renewal for
over 15-year and failure to pay Tax regularly.
Inspite of this development, National Reformer reliably gathered that TDA, defied the Governors directives as they have continued to collect tax thereby subjecting owners to abject hardship.
It will be recalled that some time last year, the Tipper Drivers had
embarked on strike that lasted for 3-month, which almost paralyse
major construction activities in the state that eventually led to
crisis that resulted to injury inflicted on several persons with over
10-vehicles burnt and other properties badly damaged.
However,Some persons were apprehended by security agencies and later released for undisclosed reasons.
The President of the TOA, Comrade Monday Enihoro,who spoke on behalf of the Union lamented the part the Attorney General has played in the whole episode; noting, he should have remained neutral to allow peace reign in the Union.
“Several times the Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike,have made
attempt to resolve the issue, the Drivers will not come. We have waited for today,to get the matter resolved because the CP gave us today, only for us to come and we were told by the CP that he can only act on the order of the Attorney General to intervene. Since on January 12,2016, he has been promising to resolve it,” He said.
“Barrister Afolabi was the lawyer handling the matter before but I don’t know what happened the Attorney General appointed another lawyer from his Chambers to replace him,” he stated.
“as we speak to you now,a court injunction have been sent to
the office of the attorney general to restrain the state government
from disbanding the drivers,” he added.
Comrade Enihoro quipped further that the comrade governor did well to broker peace but was never brokered by some groups which paved way for TDA Court injunction to thwart the efforts of the state governor to restoring peace between the parties.
Meanwhile, several phone call put to the attorney general to comment on the allegations proved abortive as we were reliably informed by his Personal Assistant that he was with the comrade governor on the state exco meeting.
