The Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Worker (NURTW) , Oroki Branch, Osogbo, State of Osun, Kazeem Oyewale, better known as Asiri Eniba, has been arrested by soldiers.

 

Asiri Eniba, was reportedly arrested alongside some suspected political thugs at Ojurin motor park, Old Garage, Osogbo, around 12:45pm.

 

There was heavy gunfire at Old Garage in Osun on Friday as thugs allegedly working for Kazeem Oyewale exchanged bullets with men of the Nigerian Army.

 

It was reported that the Oyewale was later arrested after the gun duel with operatives.

 

Some residents of Osogbo who witnessed the arrest said Oyewale and the thugs were caught with two guns, cutlasses and Indian hemp.

 

According to the residents, the soldiers fired several warning gunshots into the air when some other thugs wanted to attack them.

 

It was gathered that Oyewale who put on white native, had attempted to escape before he was cautioned by the soldiers.

One of the eye witnesses said: “The soldiers came with a hilux and one hummer bus. They went straight to where Asiri and his boys were. The soldiers took strategic position and surrounded the building where Asiri and his boys were.

 

“Some of them went inside and we where heating noise. They later matched out Asiri and like five of his boys. Two of the boys were with guns.

 

“When the soldiers were matching them into bus, some thugs were throwing stones at the soldiers and that forced them to be shooting sporadically. The gunshots were much.”

 

FINGERS

Recall in June 2022, Asiri Eniba, had alleged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and the state Chairman of the party of threat to his life and businesses.

 

This was contained in a petition made to Osun State Commissioner of Police, Wale Olokode titled: Urgent Attention: Threat To My Life By The Osun State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and dated Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

 

Oyewale, in the petition he personally signed and submitted to Olokode, alleged the PDP State Caretaker Chairman, Mr Adekunle Akindele; Director-General, Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation, Mr Sunday Bisi; Mr Niyi Owolade, Chairman PDP Legal Committee; for public incitement against him and orchestrated attempts to eliminate him.

 

He alleged that the recent attack on his personality by the PDP Campaign Council and public incitement against him are currently endangering his life, businesses, and properties saying he has no choice but to cry for help to save his life and business with the recent development.

 

According to the petition “the Joint Legal, Security and Media Committee of the PDP at a Press Conference allegedly addressed in Osogbo yesterday, is in furtherance of its penchant for violence to fabricate lies against my personality just to prepare the ground to eliminate me and attack my businesses.”

 

The chairman of the transport union disclosed that he has instructed his lawyer to initiate a legal process against PDP adding that “but the security aspect of the issue raised and my safety is the most important to me because in recent times when PDP raise such allegations, what follows is a clandestine action. The two major recent developments in the state have proved that.”

 

“As a transporter and leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), political choice is within the purview of my Fundamental Human Right as guaranteed by the Nigeria 1999 Constitution as amended and such should not become a reason for the state chapter of PDP to eliminate me and destroy my business,” he concluded.

 

Kazeem, however, asked the police to hold the PDP governorship candidate, PDP State Caretaker Chairman, Director General, Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation, Chairman PDP Legal Committee and others should be held responsible for any attempt on his life, family, relatives, business and properties.

 

ATTACKS

Kazeem Oyewale, popularly referred to Asiri Eniba in February insisted that that the State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has never used him to attack any political opponent since ascending power.

 

This was after  members of the aggrieved All Progressives Congress, APC, under the leadership of Rasaq Salinsile had alleged that Oyewale led a series of attacks against their members, including the attack on Oranmiyan House.

 

Speaking while inspecting the Olaiya flyover constructed by the State Government, in the company of other NURTW units chairmen, he said he has never been involved in any political crisis as he is busy organising the union to benefit his members.

 

“I’ve heard a series of rumours concerning the attack on some APC members in Ikirun and Osogbo where my name was mentioned. I am a bonafide member of APC and I am not involved in any attack. I can’t even be used to attack party members because I have no issue with anyone”, the NURTW said.

 

He added that the essence of their visit to the flyover was to collaborate with the government to ensure the safety and security of users when it is finally inaugurated.

 

“The flyover is at the centre point of the state capital and we, NURTW are the end-users, hence, we are concerned about development at the site. We have been hearing alot of rumour about the bridge and we are here today to inspect and we are very satisfied with what we have witnessed.

 

“We appreciate the governor on the issue of security and since the Governor carried us along in the construction of the bridge, I want to assure you that we won’t allow miscreants to take over the bridge and we will surely support the governor in keeping the state safe.

 

“We will surely support Governor Oyetola’s second term ambition, we are going to work for him and will surely emerge as Governor again”, he said.’

 

The Osun State Governorship election is set to hold tomorrow, Saturday, 15th July. The major contenders are;

Senator Ademola Adeleke – PDP

Adegboyega Oyetola – APC, and

Yinka Kolawole – Labour Party

 

Both Oyetola and Adeleke contested for the Osun governorship seat in 2018, which Oyetola won after a rerun.

 

After the rerun election which took place in seven units, Oyetola won seven, while Adeleke won one.

 

At the end of the rerun, Oyetola polled 255,505 votes while the PDP candidate scored a total of 255,023 votes.

Although Adeleke had led Oyetola with 353 votes at the end of the first round of ballots, but after the rerun, Oyetola won with 482 votes.