Mega Icon Magazine exclusively gathered that there was palpable tension and confusion in Ajaawa, headquarters of Ogo Oluwa local government area of Oyo State on Tuesday, as suspected thugs invaded Ajaawa town hall and disrupted the processes of electing new leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ogo-Oluwa local government wing.
It was also gathered that the thugs were allegedly sponsored by the Caretaker Chairman in the council, Mr. Oluwaseun Ojo to disrupt the process in order to prevent election from holding and impose candidate of his choice, one Mrs Kadewole Obalade to emerge as the chairperson of the NUT in the local government.
The Council boss, it was allegedly gathered mobilized the thugs alongside members of the newly inaugurated Amotekun Corps to the venue of the election to threaten and prevent delegates that would vote in the election from entering the venue.
Mega Icon Magazine, further gathered that when the atmosphere became tensed and rowdy, the policemen from Ajaawa Divisional police station, were invited to the venue on the order of the Chairman to forcefully suspended the election under the pretext that they did so to prevent breakdown of law and order.
Some members of the union who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that the Caretaker Chairman of the council, Oluwaseun Ojo has been making frantic efforts to impose his candidate, Mrs Kadewole Obalade on the union against their preferred candidate, Mr Oyeyinka for selfish reason.
They revealed that part of his plan was that he used his power as the council Chief to ensure the transfer of their candidate , Mr Oyeyinka Ezekiah Olasupo, Mr Adeniran Isaiah Adewale and one other from Ogo Oluwa to Atiba local government in Oyo through a member of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission board, Alhaja Nusiratu who happened to be his ally.
They wondered why the council gaffer would intervene in the affairs of a professional and independent body like teachers that is non-partisan and guided by the ethics of their profession in the name of politics.
According to them, “we want to let the Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde and the entire people of the State know that the harmonious relationship that is existing among the teachers in Ogo Oluwa is being threatened by the Chairman of this local government in person of Mr Oluwaseun Ojo who is hell bent to impose a candidate on us to lead us in our union for his selfish motive. This is unacceptable and we are ready to rebuff his action.
“We want His Excellency to call him to order to stop interfering in our internal affairs because we are not politicians. Whatever affects teachers will affect teaching profession and can equally have negative impact on the quality of teaching we are giving to our pupils and students”, they lamented.
But, the Caretaker Chairman of Ogo Oluwa local government, Mr. Oluwaseun Ojo has denied the allegation that he sponsored thugs to disrupt the election, stressing that he only provided security for the union to prevent violent during its botched election.
The council boss, in a telephone conversation with our reporter explained that he had held a meeting with all the concerned members of the union for about three to four times for them to allow peace to reign which did not yield any positive result, adding that as the chief security officer in his local government, it was his duty to forestall anybreak down of law and order for all citizens in his council area.
While denying having knowledge about the transfer of one of the candidates in the election and two others to Atiba local government, Ojo also accused the State Chairman of NUT of using his influence to disrupt the relationship among members of the union in the local government by polarising the union in his local government with the aim of turning the teachers against the government for personal interest.
