*Says UTQUEN is formed out of greed and jealousy
By Onome Ogbogoh & Tina Utobor
UGHELLI – As the crisis engulfing the Delta State chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Union of Tippers and Quarry Employers of Nigeria (UTQUE deepens, the Branch ‘E’ chairman of NURTW Ughelli North, Comrade John Emonena Akpodiete JP, has cleared the air, saying Ughelli North has only one union.

Addressing newsmen on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at Ughelli, the branch ‘E’ chairman, Akpodiete, stated that the Union of Tippers and Quarry Employers of Nigeria (UTQUE) was born as a result of a quest for power and jealousy.
According to him, hitherto the two unions were one until the greed for power brought about division in the union.

His words, “We are one union in Ughelli North LGA, there is nothing like UTQUEN in Ughelli North until recent times when some members seceded away to form a different union.
“The state chairman of NURTW called them to desist from such a move yet they play the devil’s game by turning down the state chairman’s advices.

“Ughelli North council chairman, Hon. Jaro Egbo, earlier this year invited both parties for a peace talk in his office to harmonize both parties to work together, but all his pleas fell on deaf ears as members of UTQUEN refused to yield to his advice”.

Commenting on Egbo’s one year in office, Akpodiete praised his pragmatic approach in addressing the needs of the people of Ughelli North adding that his one year in office has been impactful.

“Egbo is delivering the Renewed Hope M.O.R.E Agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the grassroots in Ughelli North. He means well for Ughelli North people; he is a Godsent to deliver Ughelli from political quagmires and a state of arrested development”, Akpodiete stated.