President-general, Maritime Workers Union Of Nigeria, Com. Francis Bunu
AJOKE PHILIP
The President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Com. Francis Bunu, has shunned the award ceremony in honour of his Predecessor, Com. Adewale Adeyanju, BUSINESSINSIDERNG can report.
It could be recalled that the management of Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited (ABTL) had, on Friday, celebrated the peaceful reign of Com. Adeyanju as the PG of MWUN.
But, Com. Bunu, who was expected to be available at the event, was conspicuously absent from the event, fuelling speculation about the cold war between the current PG and his predecessor.
Immediate-Past PG, Com. Adewale Adeyanju
The Cold War, sources have informed BUSINESSINSIDERNG, was mainly fuelled by the coming elections into various branches of the union.
Also, Com. Bunu, it was gathered, had refused to continue with the innovation and transformation of the company. Adeyanju had brought to the union.
Sources, however, warned that the union would be thrown into a further crisis of the Com. Bunu continue his hard stance against the gentleman’s agreement reached by labour unions.
Meanwhile, Com. Adeyanju has reassured industry stakeholders that no crisis in the union.
He urged stakeholders to sleep with their two eyes closed in the forthcoming elections.
Speaking at a brief award ceremony in honour of the labour leader by ABTL, the union’s Board of Trustees expressed confidence in the new MWUN administration led by Comrade Francis Bunu, noting that the union will conduct a credible election.
The labour leader maintained that the forthcoming elections will be conducted in a free and fair atmosphere, devoid of disputes.
Adeyanju, who is also the Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), assured contestants across the four branches of the union that nobody seeking elective positions will be shortchanged during the polls.
He acknowledged that election periods often lead to disagreements among members but emphasised that there is no crisis within the union.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) boss further lamented that interest groups and individuals sometimes use the electioneering process to create confusion among followers, members, and officers, but assured that the union remains harmonious.
According to him, the two leading candidates for the post of President, Dockworkers Branch of MWUN-Bolaji Agboola and Oluwole Adetumi-are good friends, hence no dispute exists between them.
He explained that MWUN is here to stay in the industry and that the transformation across the four branches will continue to reach greater heights, reaffirming that systematic leadership is continuous.
The unionist appealed to interested contestants to add value to the system and avoid creating hatred among members.
However, Adeyanju urged other port concessionaires to emulate ABTL in recognising workers, adding that celebration of employees who contribute to an organization’s success should be taken seriously.