Chief Ifeanyi Obi is a veteran who intimately understands the history and inner workings of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). Having played an active role during the union’s formative years in the former Mid-Western Region, he currently serves as the Chairman of the Delta State Council of the drivers’ union. In an interview with The Pointer’s Fidelis Egugbo, Chief Obi reflected on the union’s journey, its past struggles, and its modern-day transformation.
Excerpts:
How did your journey with the NURTW begin?
I started working in the late 1970s, which was around the time I began driving. A late friend of mine, Goddy, took me to the bridgehead in Onitsha. At the time, drivers from Agbor, Auchi, and other parts of the Mid-West were afraid to enter Onitsha to load passengers. I would take their vehicles at the bridgehead, drive into Onitsha, load them, and bring the vehicles back to the drivers at the bridgehead. This was before Chief Ukonu established the first motor park at the bridgehead. That motor park enabled us to do casual, informal business, which eventually inspired me to open a motor park at Upper Iweka.
Were you the Chairman at that point?
No, Ghana Nwaigbo became the head because I was the only person from the Mid-West. To encourage more people from my region to join us, I began recruiting drivers. Chief Damian Oduah became the primary driver for the Onitsha-to-Benin taxi route. The late Onoyi, who drove a Peugeot Wagon, took charge of the Onitsha-to-Warri route. Ezemonye managed the Onitsha-to-Ibadan route, while a man known as ‘Playboy’ (now deceased) was placed in charge of the Auchi route. Through my efforts, Ikechukwu (popularly known as ABJ, whose father was very wealthy) also joined us. However, over time, the Mid-West drivers I recruited began pressuring me to drive the Igbo members out of Upper Iweka. Around this period, Damian Oduah aligned with Ukonu and declared he was no longer with the National Union. Ukonu began using the police to arrest us. Although I did not own a vehicle, I was a popular driver, and the drivers who loaded the Auchi and Agbor routes contributed money to buy me a vehicle. I declined the offer, left the park, and stepped away from union activities entirely. I moved to Ejimnkeonye Motors, managed by Chief Odunze, and applied for a driving job. I passed the driving test and was assigned a MAN Diesel trailer to transport drinks from breweries. A few years later, I was involved in an accident at Milking Hill, Enugu, where my conductor died on the spot. Instead of showing sympathy, Ejimnkeonye threatened to sue me for compensation over the destroyed drinks. Outraged by this treatment, many drivers left the company in protest. About three months later, whilst I was playing draughts at home, one of the drivers who had resigned, a man named ‘School Boy’ (Oti) came to see me. He asked, “Why are you still at home? Does having an accident mean someone can no longer work?” He advised me to go to Aba. There, I was tested by Kabaka at CUO Motors and passed. Kabaka initially hired me as a spare driver before assigning me a luxury bus to drive routes from Aba to Lagos and the North. After a few years, I left that company as well.
What did you do after leaving CUO Motors?
I returned to Asaba and bought three buses. I was managing my fleet when Mr Akaraiwe, who was in charge of the Onitsha buses, led a delegation of drivers to my house. They begged me to join the National Union of Road Transport Workers as a supervisor in Asaba. I agreed. Because I was the only one who truly understood the operations at the time, the same Oduah who had driven me out of Onitsha came back to challenge us at the Asaba end of the bridgehead. During the altercation, the police from Benin City, since we were still under Bendel State, arrested 11 people who had crossed over from Onitsha to instigate violence; the rest fled. Those arrested were charged to court, bringing an end to the clashes. The Onitsha faction stopped crossing into Asaba to control passengers, allowing me to fully take charge of the union’s operations.
What were the main challenges you faced in the union’s early days?
Our greatest challenge came when a group led by Uche Eshiobu broke away to form the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO). Realising that open conflict would destroy the NURTW we had fought so hard to build, we reported the matter to the police. The Commissioner of Police in Benin at the time was Chem Bab, and our DPO in Asaba was Basil. The DCO, whom we called Bob, was assigned to handle the case. He convened a meeting and advised that the police wanted peace; we had to either agree on a single identity or resolve the matter in court. We all resolved to operate under the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). From there, we created units, established a branch, and allocated executive positions. I was retained as Chairman, and Uche Eshiobu was made my Deputy. Everything ran smoothly until an official from the Ministry in Benin, who oversaw motor parks, announced on the radio that all union officers were to vacate the parks. People began celebrating, claiming that Agberos (touts) were no longer in the parks. Following that broadcast, everyone else withdrew from motor park operations. I was the only one left. When I visited Benin, people addressed me as Chairman, but I insisted I was not. When asked who the Chairman was, we pleaded with Diokpa Memali Onyia to assume the role.
What happened after Delta State was created?
All of us from Delta State, across both Delta North and Delta South agreed to maintain the NURTW identity. We appointed Peter Emefie, from the South, as Chairman, and Diokpa Memali Onyia, from the North, as his Deputy. It was during their tenure that internal strife broke out. Daily conflict eventually led to the removal of Peter Emefie. Diokpa Onyia was not a fighter, yet you could not defeat him in a dispute because he was the most intelligent and educated among us. To restore peace in Delta State, Diokpa Onyia united the factions and installed the late Emmanuel Akponewhe as Chairman, while I served as his Deputy.
How did you eventually become the State Chairman?
It followed a similar pattern to how previous leaders from the South were removed. Members from the South regrouped under the leadership of Chief Dick Ani and Chief Mike Ajuya to oppose Chief Akponewhe. During this period, our National President, Comrade Gidado Hamman, passed away. Alhaji Najim Yasin emerged as the new National President and inherited the crisis. When they succeeded in removing Chief Akponewhe, the new National President ruled that in the absence of a Chairman, the Deputy automatically takes over. That was how I stepped into the role of Chairman. However, some members were dissatisfied and continued to fight my leadership. We made frequent trips to Abuja to address a series of petitions. Eventually, the National Secretariat grew tired of the disputes and called for an election, directing all members to support whoever won. We launched our campaign, moving from unit to unit and branch to branch to solicit votes. At the election held at Labour House, Asaba, I emerged victorious. I must express my gratitude to the Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan; the Secretary to the State Government, Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay; the Special Adviser on Labour, Comrade Mike Okeme; and others who understood the situation and provided a peaceful environment for the election.
How has the union fared since you became the democratically elected Chairman?
It was the first time we ever conducted a formal election, as we had previously relied on consensus candidates. Since then, the union has been very peaceful. We have come to appreciate the value of adhering to our constitution. In the past, possessing three or four guns made a person feel powerful and respected. Today, even with a thousand guns or explosives, you cannot bypass the system, you must follow the constitution. If you forcefully remove a chairman, you cannot simply take over; the deputy steps in to complete the term, after which a fresh election is held. Consequently, we now have a peaceful, well-organised union governed by law.
Many people still view the NURTW as an organisation for Agberos, thugs and touts. How do you respond to that?
That belongs to the past when members fought in motor parks. Today, you will see our members attending to their duties at the parks dressed in fine lace and clean white attire, confident of a peaceful day’s work. Fights are a thing of the past. If any member of the NURTW molests or assaults a passenger, they are dealt with strictly according to our constitution.
Critics argue that your members are still used as political thugs…
No, that is untrue and frankly an embarrassing question. How can prosperous individuals driving luxury SUVs and good cars be used as thugs? We have well-paying jobs and take pride in our work. We also have educated professionals working within our ranks. This is no longer the NURTW of old; it is a respected, well-structured organisation operating professionally from the national level down to the units.
What legacy would you like to leave behind as Chairman of the Delta State Council?
I would like to be remembered as the leader who ushered in and sustained a peaceful, modern, and orderly National Union of Road Transport Workers.
Culled from Chapter 201, pages 666–669 of Comrade Fidelis Egugbo’s Memoirs Of A Journalist In Government Media (published 2023).
