A fresh crisis is brewing in the Evaristus Uzamere-led faction of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), HSENations has learnt.
Reports getting to this newspaper indicated that immediate-past factional Chairman of the Lagos State Branch of the institute, Engr. Timothy Iwuagwu engaged some members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) to lock up the gate to the national headquarters of the institute in Ikotun, Lagos on Tuesday morning, thereby preventing staff from gaining access to the premises.
Iwuagwu allegedly made the move to protest his redeployment to Delta State and removal as National Spokesman of the institute.
Former Naval personnel, Iwuagwu is also allegedly plotting to bring soldiers to the institute’s headquarters to further paralyse any form of activity.
A stakeholder in the institute who craved anonymity told HSENations that Lagos is a very important branch that generates the most funds for ISPON, hence anyone who controls the branch controls the institute’s purse and influences decisions in the institute.
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It was further learnt that the factional ISPON President, Evaristus Uzamere authorised the redeployment of Iwuagwu to Delta, where he was mandated to establish a fresh branch in Asaba.
Feelers from the institute indicated that the undertone of the move was to pave way for peace and reunification in ISPON.
The Uzamere-led governing board appointed Mr. Ben Modebe as Iwuagwu’s replacement in Lagos.
A few safety professionals that spoke with HSENations alleged that Iwuagwu has been a stumbling block to the return of peace in the institute.
They accused him of scuttling efforts to reunite the Kaizer Ebi and Uzamere factions and achieve lasting peace in ISPON.
Efforts made to reach Iwuagwu were unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.
Several calls placed to his known telephone number were unanswered.
Also, a text message sent to the same number was not replied.
Furthermore, a WhatsApp message sent to him indicated that it had been read but was also not replied.