By Mike Oboh
Executive National President of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, Comrade Eriyo Osakpamwan has debunked claims in the media that the association wrote a letter to Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar assuring him of mass support in the 2019 general elections.
According to Comrade Osakpamwan, reports in an online media that the association’s Secretary General, Alhaji Yusuf Adeniyi wrote a letter to the PDP Presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of mass support during the electioneering campaign in 2018 was a creation of the writer and lacked any element of credibility.
“Neither myself or my Secretary General wrote such a letter, the letter is fabricated, it is a creation of the out gone Lagos State chairman, Musa Mohammed and his cohorts to coin favour from presidency of which they know am a die-hard fan of President Mohammadu Buhari since the days of APP to present day APC.
“It is funny to say the least, I also challenged them, also the online publisher and their sponsors to provide the letter and subject it to forensic analysis.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have been a loyal follower of President Mohammadu Buhari from the days of All Peoples Party, as the Deputy State Youth leader, to Alliance for Democracy, to Alliance Congress of Nigeria to now All Progressives Congress, were a I also served as Edo state youth leader.
“My story is there for people to confirm as a man who spent his hard earned money to ensured victory for APC in my state and Nigeria.
“Ordinarily, the office of the President is not supposed to join issues with some miscreants hiding under the guise of faction to scandalize the name and the office of the president of RTEAN.
“It is surprising that they engaged the services of online bloggers, which they paid handsomely for propaganda, and fabricate stories. However, we decided to react to some of the misleading and fake information by Musa Mohammed and his cohorts.”
He said it is in public domain that the Zone 7 address they used for the fabricated story, was when the former President, Musa isiwele was still in office.
He said for the avoidance of doubt, the campaign Director General for Atiku , Otunba Gbenga Daniel was still alive for verification if in any letter as president of RTEAN.
Osakpamwan , added that in their myopic manner, they claimed in the said letter that,” I have the support of an APC Chieftain, at this point, they have contradicted themselves.
“It is on record that in the month of February, 2019 I came openly to declared my full support for President Mohammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole , this further diffused their illegal letter that was dated on the 5th of October, 2018, this can further be proved by both National newspapers and Electronics media.
“In the month of March, 2019, when the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha came to inaugurate our mass transit buses, I made it clear to him that our over 16 million members across the country will vote enmass for President Mohammadu Buhari, which we did accordingly.
“As the Executive National President of RTEAN, I enjoyed the overwhelming support of all the state chapters, including Federal Capital Territory of RTEAN members. Therefore, I enjoy you all to disregard the fake information as fabricated by Musa Mohammed and his cohorts.
“But remembered that Lagos state Exco remained dissolved and Musa Mohammed and his cohorts are free to contest election within the stipulated date.”