RTEAN does not condone touting, Awolowo was our secretary – President

The National President, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Alhaji Musa Muhammed, has rejected the touting tag on the association by some members of the public, saying the body does not condone hooliganism. Muhammed said the association boasts of responsible founding fathers and notable Nigerians including the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, who he said, […]

The National President, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Alhaji Musa Muhammed, has rejected the touting tag on the association by some members of the public, saying the body does not condone hooliganism.

Muhammed said the association boasts of responsible founding fathers and notable Nigerians including the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, who he said, had served as the national secretary of the body.

He insisted that key words from the RTEAN’s slogan like “Super” “Maturity”, “Unity and Progress” lend credence to the association as an organisation of forward-looking and responsible businessmen and women.

Muhammed spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the 10th delegate conference of the State Branch of RTEAN.

At the delegate conference, the State Chairman, Titilayo Akibu, aka Efele, and the Secretary, Tiwalade Akingbade, were re-elected and sworn in alongside other executive members for another term of five years.

In his address, the National President urged members of the association to distinguish themselves as responsible members of the public and live up to the good name given to the association by the founding fathers.

“Our father (Obafemi) Awolowo was once the secretary of the RTEAN. We have the history, Awolowo was a secretary to this organisation.

“One of our duties is to eliminate touting. I am sorry to say this: no single member of RTEAN is a tout. We are not touts, we are not hooligans.

“A woman selling pepper in the market, they will give her respect by calling her a businesswoman. So, what about we who spent millions of naira to purchase vehicles and someone is calling me a tout?,” he said, insisting that RTEAN members are “vehicle owners not drivers.”

Muhammed added that “Let’s keep the name of RTEAN as kept by our founding fathers. Use that slogan of ‘maturity’ in all your activities so that people will know RTEAN with the good names that our founding fathers gave us.”

He highlighted the body’s commitment to enhancing road safety through collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

He said the partnership would include establishment of a specialized driving training school in Ogun State.

“We are already committed to this partnership with the FRSC,” the president said.

Speaking with newsmen, the Secretary applauded the Chairman’s performance during his first term, attributing his re-election to the positive impact witnessed across RTEAN’s operations in Ogun State.

Akingbade underscored the importance of continuity in consolidating the gains made under Akibu’s leadership, citing improvements in park management and operational standards as key achievements.

“In his second term, our Chairman is committed to building on these successes recorded and taking the association to the next level,” Akingbade said.