Petroleum tanker drivers have threatened to exit its umbrella body, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), if its president, Williams Akporeha and general secretary, Afolabi Olawale, did not resign.

PTD Ibadan depot ex-officio Gbenga Olawale said in a statement on Sunday that the tanker drivers would begin a nationwide protest to press home their demand.

The statement directed PTD members across the country to move with leaves in front of their trucks to warn NUPENG and police against interference and incessant harassment of their leaders.

According to the statement, Mr Williams is not a member of NUPENG and, as such, lacks the competence to lead the union.

He alleged that Williams was drafted into petrol station workers of NUPENG to enable him to contest election as NUPENG president, which was a departure from the NUPENG constitution.

“Williams is not a worker or a pump attendant on record at the time he was vying for the president position,” the statement said.

PTD alleged that Mr Williams planted his surrogates to collect all union revenue not used to develop the union and tanker drivers. 

It called for a fresh election as members of the PTD, stressing that the petrol tanker drivers had decided to stand with Lucky Osusan and Dayyabu Garga to be the new NUPENG president and general secretary, respectively.

The association added that they decided to support Messrs Osusan and Garga because they sacrificed so much to ensure their members were free from extortion. 

(NAN)