David Oladimeji
A fresh leadership crisis has erupted within the Lagos Zonal Council of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), throwing the NNPC Ejigbo Unit into turmoil and raising concerns over peace and stability at one of the state’s key petroleum depots.
The Lagos Zonal Council, headquartered in Apapa under the chairmanship of Comrade Alhaji Adigun Omogbolahan, supervises more than 80 units, including four strategic NNPC depots located in Ibadan, Ilorin, Ejigbo and Mosimi.
Each of these units operates under a structured leadership system, with elected executives serving a four-year tenure, renewable for another four years if re-elected by members.
However, the calm within the Ejigbo Unit has been disrupted by a renewed push for power by a former chairman, Mr. Ganiyu Oyebola, popularly known as “10 Million,” who previously led the unit for one term.
Union members allege that after completing his tenure, Oyebola returned to the depot with a fresh ambition to reclaim the chairmanship position, a move they claim has triggered persistent unrest since 2022.
The aggrieved members accuse him of working with some disgruntled ex-members to destabilize the unit, allegedly employing the services of thugs and individuals identified as members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) to intimidate and attack loyal members.
Tensions reportedly peaked on February 16, when violence broke out at the depot, leaving several members severely injured. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with some members allegedly escaping what they termed an attempted lynching.
Leaders of the Ejigbo Unit insist they have documented evidence of the attack and are calling for an independent review of photographs and other materials that allegedly capture the scale of the violence.
Compounding the crisis, Oyebola has allegedly held press briefings accusing the union’s leadership of unlawfully orchestrating the arrest of its members — a claim the current executives strongly refute.
According to the unit’s officials, those arrested were not bona fide members of the Ejigbo Unit but individuals allegedly involved in the February 16 attack.
They explained that following the incident, legitimate members formally reported the matter to the police, who conducted investigations before arresting the suspects and charging them to court.
Sources within the unit disclosed that although the court granted bail to the accused persons, they have been unable to fulfill the bail conditions.
Members have expressed surprise at what they describe as Oyebola’s continued interference, arguing that he has already served and completed his constitutionally permitted tenure.
They questioned why other former chairmen across the over 80 units under the Lagos Zonal Council have not returned to disrupt operations in their respective domains.
As the dispute deepens, members are appealing to government authorities and security agencies to intervene and caution against actions capable of escalating tensions, insisting that peace, internal democracy and adherence to union rules must prevail at the Ejigbo depot.
