By:Joy Enamuna

The President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Dr. Adeyanju Adewale, has clearly put the record straight over the allegations of setting up 20 illegal Check points and extortion of Truck drivers.

The PG was accused by the President of Coalition of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations(COMTUA), Mr. Adeyinka Aroyewun at the early hours of today.

Adeyanju said “ordinarily MWUN will not join issues with COMTUA, however, we are compelled by the manipulative and malicious lies put forth into public space by a clearly disgruntled and disoriented Prince Adeyinka Aroyemun to issue this rebuttal”.

According to a press statement which was signed by the Secretary General of MWUN, Comrade Felix Akingboye, ” MWUN is partner in growing Nigerian economy and ensuring peace in all ports, terminals, jetties and Oil & Gas platforms across the nation, which informs our unblemished decade long record of maintaining industrial peace in the Maritime sector. More so, our record is in the public space for all to see”.

The statement which was released today and sent to Trace News Magazine, state that” COMTUA President was bent on taking a pound of flesh on the union for pulling out of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered into few years ago.This again is one of the many lies of Prince Adeyinka Aroyemun, concorted to tarnish and rubbish the well laid foundation of MWUN and should therefore be ignored”.

“We wish to point out that Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and other reputable unions and association were founding members of Coalition of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations(COMTUA) but had to withdraw their membership because continually a faction of COMTUA led by Prince Adeyinka Aroyemun breached union Memorandum of Understanding and resorted to blackmail and threats to members, security agents and government alike”.

Still “He even went to the extent of writing frivolous petitions against COMTUA members while inciting in fighting. We are not therefore, surprised that Mr. Adeyinka Aroyemun has once again resorted to his gutter tactics of wantonly peddling falsehood as his means of getting back at MWUN for withdrawing its membership from COMTUA”.

“Short of libellous, Mr. Adeyinka Aroyemun assertion that MWUN tolls 20 checkpoints from coconut Bus stop to Tin can island gate — a distance of about 1000 meters is a figment of his myopic imagination and a deliberate lie designed to malign our good image. Too many lies of Adeyinka Aroyemun.

“Com. (Prince) Dr. Adeyanju Adewale, President General, MWUN has over the years built a reputation based on probity and proper public service, he has contributed in no small measure to the growth, sustenance and development of the maritime sector.

“This can be attested to by the many myriads of accolades conferred on him by both government and other relevant stakeholders in the maritime industry: so, to drag his name into this frill is wicked and unfortunate.

“For the sake of clarity, MWUN confines its activities to areas clearly within its jurisdictional scope one of which is haulage, ably superintended by one of our highly trained and respected union official – Com. Taofeek Shorinola.

“Our well-trained members will and have not in any circumstance gone against the law as they ply their trade within the exclusive economic zone of the ports and cannot be found on the roads outside the port vicinity.

At the early hours of on Monday morning today, Lagos Trace News Magazine sighted a press statement in which Mr Adeyinka Aroyewun issued and allegedly accused the MWUN of extortion setting up 20 illegal check points between Coconut Bus stop and Tin Can Island Port gate in Apapa, Lagos.