The umbrella body of junior workers in the oil and gas industry, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, will on April 24, elect a new president.

The incumbent, Comrade Williams Akporeha, announced his exit date at the weekend while speaking at the Quarterly National Executive Council meeting of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch, PTD- NUPENG in Warri, Delta State.

Checks revealed that a former National Chairman of the PTD- NUPENG and current National Trustees of the Union, Comrade Salimon Akanni Oladiti, will be elected as the new president at an election fixed for Lagos.

It was learned that the election of Comrade Oladiti would mark the first time in the history of the union a member of PTD branch of NUPENG will be crowned as President.

At the meeting, the Zonal Chairman of the PTD- NUPENG, PorHarcourt, Comrade Joseph Okafor moved the motion for the unanimous ratification of Comrade Oladiti for the office of President of NUPENG while it was seconded by Comrade Adekunle Akinlaja of the Lagos zone.

In an almost valedictory remarks, Comrade Akporeha thanked members of the PTD branch who stood by his leadership through thick and thin during his 8-year tenure.

He declared that his support for a member of the Tanker Drivers Branch to succeed him as NUPENG President was borne out of conviction, submitting that he needed to reward their loyalty and confidence in his leadership.

He said: “Eight years ago, you stood by me in this same room. You didn’t only stand by me, you supported me. When things were tough, you were there through all the challenges.

“I want to appreciate all of you. If I stand to support one of your own as President, I have no apology. If I have done anything otherwise, my conscience would have troubled me . God used you to install me.”

Akporeha appealed to the PTD members to extend the same hands of fellowship to Comrade Oladiti who would succeed him as well as Comrade Mathias Ote, who was equally elected as substantive National Chairman of PTD- NUPENG, to ensure the continued growth of NUPENG.

“By the grace of God, as I move along I want to see a union stronger than I left it. I don’t want to see PTD go in disarray. The greatest favour you can do is to support this man that you have elected today as your national chairman.

”Also support your own that will be the President, by the grace of God on April 24 when I shall be in your midst again as former president.”

Earlier in his inaugural remarks as new chairman of PTD branch, Comrade Ote thanked the leadership of NUPENG and the NEC of PTD branch for entrusting him with the exalted seat and promised to give leadership they would all be proud of.

He said: “Sincerely, I appreciate all our members and leaders for finding me worthy to be given the privilege to lead our branch for the next four years.

“You can agree with me that there are so many other capable and competent hands that can lead this great branch, but in your collective wise decision and by the special grace of the Almighty God, I was elected as the branch chairman.

“Comrades, silver nor gold I have none, to offer in appreciation of your love, support, prayers and encouragement towards the success of my election but what I have which is good leadership, I will spare nothing in providing it.”

In his goodwill message, President of Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, Alhaji Lawal Yusuf Othman, commended the President of NUPENG “for moving towards a peaceful transition that will allow a member of PTD become president of NUPENG.