By Goodluck Ikiebe
The newly elected executive council of the Road Users Development Network of Nigeria (RUDEN), has debunked allegations made on election that brought them to power and promised to return RUDEN to its past glory to enable it achieve its aims and objectives of effective traffic management in Nigeria.
The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Network, Comrade Hakeem Sunmonu (Oga Driver), gave the promise shortly after his electíon and members of his council which took place at FRSC Command office, Nyanya, FCT.
He said, “It is our burning desire to see that RUDEN goes back to its past glory of ensuring effective management of Nigerian roads, with a view to seeing the roads okay and accident reduced to the barest minimum.
Sunmonu said they would hit the ground running by embarking on an aggressive public enlightenment campaign, on the need for road users to keep to traffic rules and regulations to curb the loss of human lives.
“RUDEN members will also visit roads to correct the wrong as far as traffic is concerned, including patching of road potholes where necessary or mobilise the people that will do the job to ease traffic challenges for motorists”.
He said If the roads are properly maintained, no driver will have cause to be avoiding potholes and in the end, collide with in coming vehicle.
The new RUDEN boss also promised to write the federal and all the states that share border with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on the need to do the needful on the roads that enter the territory by maintaining and expanding them to make the facilities accessible by motorists and other road users.
Comrade Sunmonu, who promised to reach out to the aggrieved party in the NGO, urged them to join hands with his executive council to move the NGO to the next level of development and in fulfilment of its basic aims and objectives.
He thanked members for their cooperation and the peaceful electíon in which most candidates that contested were returned unopposed.
Other elected officers are: Comrade Ibrahim Waka, Deputy President, North; Samuel, Deputy President, South; Hon.Ocholi, Secretary; while the post of road traffic and emergency went to Pharm. Beatrice Urume among others.
In a reaction to the allegation of purported election, Comrade Hakeem Sunmonu noted that, Dr John John Eket is a member of the association and as a member, he lost his right to vote the moment he stepped out of the congress during the election.
“Other BOT members present voted for their preferred candidates”, Sunmonu explained.
In a similar development, the Acting Secretary, BOT, Mr Oche Emmanuel, said that, “when the caretaker committee was constituted last year, the house gave them mandate to plan and conduct election for RUDEN (TUF).
The last meeting held in July, 22, it was agreed by the general house that in the next meeting, election will hold, unfortunately the house couldn’t meet for five (5) months not until last week Saturday, 12/11/22, when the caretaker committee conducted its ever first election for RUDEN TUF.
According to Oche Emmanuel, BoT Members present in the meeting that gave their consent to the election are as follows;
- Dr. John John – Ag. Chairman (BoT)
- Mr. Oche Emmanuel GOC – Ag. Secretary (BoT)
- Hon. Attah IKHARO
- Mr. Mcquine
- Mr. Austine Efe
- Hon. Yakubu Ocholi
- Mr. Samuel Eban
- Mr. Henry Nimyel
- Mr. Goodluck Nanee
- Mrs. Assumptha Nwachukwu
- Mr. Charles Amunuga
- Barr. Ibrahim Wakawa
- Dr. (Barr) Prince Adeniyi
- Emmanuel Okoye and
- Mrs Cupi Terfena. Mr. Oche Emmanuel remarked that, there is no basis whatsoever to describe the election as a hoax as being alleged by the Acting Chairman, BOT, Dr John John Eket.
He appealed for calm and support to move the NGO forward in Road traffic management and Safety.
