By Victor Ahiuma-Young

MEMBERS of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, weekend in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, elected Adewale Adeyanju, as their new President-General, PG, even as they appointed immediate past PG, Anthony Nted, as Chairman of the union’s Advisory Council, AC.

Adeyanju, who is the outgoing President of the Dockworkers’ branch of MWUN, defeated his challenger and a former Deputy President-General, DPG, of MWUN, Dahiru Tella, from Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, with 132 votes to 27 to emerge the new PG.

Other elected officials are Douglas Eromobor, DPG; Tonye Harry, DPG; Boniface Udoh , DPG;  Ganiyu Agora, Abubakar Bello, Funmi Fasan,  Chris Idagbonre, Vice Presidents General, VPG and Uche Igwe-Onu, outgoing President of Shipping branch of the Union as National Treasurer.

Also elected unopposed were Benson Awolowo Enuaware, National Trustee, Matin Njoku, National Trustee and Wasiu Keshinro, National Auditor.

Before the election, members in a motion unanimously adopted during the business section, created an advisory council made up of members of the outgoing National Administrative Council, NAC, of the union and appointed Nted as chairman.

The council is to advice the Union and its leadership on critical issues, policies, actions among others and will meet with leaders of the Union once in three months to review issues affecting the Union and take appropriate actions or responses.

Earlier, Nted in his valedictory address to delegates, called for unity of the union, warning that on no account should anybody attempt to create disunity in the union, saying “Election will come and go, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria will remain an indivisible large family. I advise that nobody should on any ground try to decimate this large family we have collectively built.”

In his acceptance speech, the new PG, appreciated the immediate past PG for laying a good foundation for development and growth in the union, sustaining peace in the ports, reforming and changing the orientation of the workers, especially dockworkers for the better.