By Mumini AbdulKareem
The national leadership of the Association of Professional Plumbers has affirmed the Clement Orire-led faction in Kwara State as authentic members duly recognised by the association.
The association’s National President, Dr Femi Awotoye, in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin, said Orire-led faction was the only one known in the state, dismissing the report that the faction had been suspended from the union.
He said the Kwara State branch of the association had been under the leadership of the Orire -led group since 2010 till date without being found wanting.
Orire, who is currently the national leader of Board of Trustees (BoT) of the association, served as state President between 2010 and 2014, succeeded by Taofik Ajibade Jimoh (2015 to 2017) before the mantle of leadership fell on Babatunde Alabi, who is the incumbent state Governor of the association.
The association’s national President disclosed that the apex leadership of the union only recognised Orire-led group and warned against spreading unverified information that could plunge the union into crisis.
Awotoye noted that the Orire group, had within the past few years, recorded remarkable achievements including securing six plots of land, building of 18 rooms self contained apartment for the association and raising the bar of the association to a greater height.
He applauded the association under Orire for securing a molex tanker, its regular free community plumbing activities and what he called “untiring commitment to the welfare of members.
The President, however, urged Suleiman Onigbari led group to refund the over N150, 000 allegedly owed the association and desist from feeding unsuspecting members of the public with fake news.
Awotoye also asked Onigbari and members of his group to stop dragging the good name of the association in the mud or be ready to face the dire consequences.
Onigbari-led faction had announced the expulsion of five members of the association including Orire, of which the latter described the action as illegal and baseless, saying that only a law court possesses the power to expel any member of the association.
