Mkpoikana Udoma 27 July 2016, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – Members of the National Association of Plant Operators, NAPO, disrupted the 5th Triennial Delegate Congress of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, in Port Harcourt last week over issues with its national president.
Some aggrieved members of NAPO protested when the National President of NAPO, Mr. Eze Dickson Ogbewe, was recognised and called to the high table.
The aggrieved members said Ogbewe was not the president hence should not be recognised by the TUC.
Meanwhile, the pro-Ogbewe faction of NAPO also protested against the aggrieved members, stating that he remained the national president of the association.
It took the efforts of the outgoing chairman of TUC in Rivers State, Mr. Chika Hygenius Onuegbu, to calm the protesting factions.
Onuegbu explained that NAPO was not yet an affiliate of the TUC but that the union had to be recognised and identified with in order to help fight for the welfare of her members.
Explaining the imbroglio to SweetcrudeReports at the event, the treasurer of NAPO, Rivers State branch, Mr. Damiete Sokari, explained that the problem began following the suspension of its Rivers State Secretary, Mr. Harold Bestowe, from the union over financial misappropriation and misconduct.
Sokari who pointed out that Mr. Bestowe organised people to disrupt and to molest the national president at the TUC conference, also said the Rivers State branch of NAPO have already elected a new state secretary to replaced the sacked Harold Bestowe.
