By Festus Ahon

ASABA—National Patron of National Automobile Technicians Association, NATA, Alhaji Francis Ismail, has berated the Delta State Chairman of Artisans, Mr Godwin Ochonogor, for encroaching in the activities of NATA.

Enjoining Ochonogor to apologise to the leadership of NATA for attempting to bring it under his leadership, Ismaila said NATA had been in existence for decades and could not be under Artisans Association which, according to him, was still at its formative stage.

Ismail, who was reacting to media reports credited to Ochonogor wherein he allegedly challenged the authority of NATA, insisted that the Delta State Chairman of NATA, Mr Ifeanyi Abanum and his members were not under Artisans.

He said that Ochonogor as a professional welder, “Is a member of NATA and has no right to break away with members of NATA under any guise.

“We did not form this association through fraudulent means. It is surprising that Ochonogor is expecting a national association to be under Artisans whereas as a welder, he is supposed to be working under the authority of NATA.”

He alleged that Ochonogor had hoodwinked artisans in the state to believe that he has registered a cooperative which the state government has agreed to fund to the tune of N1 billion.

Efforts to reach Ochonogor for comment were unsuccessful.