Title: Battle for legitimacy among oil tanker drivers – Comrade Lucky Osesua stakes claim as national president
Introduction: Recent tensions are rocking the oil and gas industry as oil tanker executives vie for the legitimacy of their leadership. Comrade Lucky Osesua, currently the self-proclaimed National President, accuses the leadership of the union of illegal behavior and manipulation to impose itself on the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the industry. In this article, we take a closer look at this battle for legitimacy and the implications it could have on the industry.
The background: According to Osesua and his team, their leadership was elected in an election that took place in Abuja, in accordance with the union’s statutes. However, another faction led by Augustine Egbon also claims to have been elected in an election in Ibadan. Osesua claims that this election was illegitimate and that Egbon’s faction is desperate to gain acceptance from industry stakeholders.
The accusations: Osesua and his team accuse the union leadership of forum shopping, blackmail and contempt of court, saying they are using sentiments to impose their illegal leadership. They also point out that Egbon’s faction has repeatedly violated union rules and legal methods of conducting delegate conferences.
Call to Action: In their statement, Osesua and his team urge President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Labor and Employment, Simon Lalong, and other key industry stakeholders not to grant legitimacy to the Egbon faction. They want these stakeholders to take into account violations of union rules and support their legitimate leadership.
Bottom line: The battle for legitimacy among oil tanker drivers demonstrates the divisions within the union and the challenges facing the industry. It remains to be seen who will ultimately be recognized as the legitimate president and what the repercussions will be for workers, industry and stakeholders in general.