By Akinwale Kasali
After imposing two of his men as traditional rulers in Lagos, a former Lagos state governor and All Progressives Congress, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinunu is set to make Musiliu Akinsanya alias MC Oluomo, the Chairman of the Lagos State National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, the Oba of Oshodi.
If the plan succeeds, critics of the former governor said he must have achieved his aim of positioning his trusted men in strategic position ahead the2023 make or mar presidential election for which he has indicated interest.
Recall that Omogbolahan Lawal, the Oniru of Iruland and Saheed Elegushi of Ikateland were allegedly forced on their people as traditional ruler by Tinubu. Lawal was the aide-de-camp to the Lagos strongman while Elegushi was known to have been very close to him.
If Oluomo, a known thug and an enforcer becomes the Oba of Oshodi many will not believe that Tinubu did not have any hand in his rise to the traditional position.
It is no longer a joke that the Lagos NURTW boss is really interested in occupying the obaship position after his images in Royal Regalia, tagged, “Ayedade, Musiliu Oba Oshodi” surfaced on social media. To further underscore this point, Fuji music maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall has been hailing him as the next Oba of Oshodi.
In spite of this, the Olusi Onigbesa family, one of the royal families in Oshodi has vowed to do everything to ensure that the commercial transport union leader did not mount the traditional stool. The family has now called on the Governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-olu to intervene to forestall violence in the town.
The Head of the Olushi Onigbesa royal family, Kabiru Eyantan, said this on Wednesday during a press briefing.
He said, “The attention of the Olushi Onigbesa royal family of Oshodi Awori Kingdom has been drawn to the picture of Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo, Chairman, NURTW in Lagos State circulated on numerous social media platform where he was dressed in traditional kingly attire intended for an Oba in Yorubaland.
“Our attention has also been drawn to the trending videos and news in social and conventional media with reference to the message delivered by a first class Oba in Ikorodu Division at the coronation anniversary of Oniba of Iba Kingdom in Iba Town, Ikeja Division on the issue of intended aspiration of Akinsanya to become Oba of Oshodi.
“We plead with the Lagos State Government to avert communal crisis, breakdown of law and order and bloodshed in Oshodi community, if urgent action is not taken by our proactive and peace-loving Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to stop MC Oluomo from soliciting to become the Oba of Oshodi or laying claim to the Obaship stool.”
Eyantan said Akinsanya is not eligible to become the Oba of Oshodi.
“To put the record straight, we state that the tribunal of inquiry into chieftaincy matters in respect of the upgrading Baale of Oshodi to first-class Obaship status was set up by Lagos State Government and lasted between January 2003 and December 2008 and the tribunal recommended that the Olushi Onigbesa royal family of Oshodi land is the only family eligible and entitled to the stool of the Oba of Oshodi.
“Alhaji Akinsanya is not a member of the Olushi Onigbesa royal family in Oshodi land and has no right to be the Oba of Oshodi stool and therefore is not eligible to aspire or to be appointed to the stool of Oba of Oshodi,” he added.
Oluomo rose to prominence due to allege backing of the former governor, and is said to be one of the thugs being used by the APC to win elections. It is no longer a hidden fact that the NURTW boss controls the Lagos underworld.
He almost lost his life during the 2019 governorship election after he was stabbed at the Sky Power Field at Archbishop Vining Anglican Church, Ikeja, by members of a rival NURTW. He was later flown abroad for treatment with the allege support of Tinubu who is now aspiring to become president.
Watchers of politics in Lagos, therefore, insist that Oluomo is being positioned for the Obaship position ahead of the 2023 presidential election, which Tinubu has lately sown interest.
Others who spoke with the magazine also said Tinubu must have decided to compensate Oluomo with the position for helping his party APC win elections in the Aquatic state. Muritala Balogun, a resident of Oshodi told the magazine that Tinubu is poised to position his boys in strategic positions with the aim of achieving selfish political and personal interests.
It would be recalled that Oba Lawal, the Oniru of Iruland, a who is a former aide-de-camp to Tinubu, and commissioner in the state was imposed on the people of Oniru by the State government despite the uproar that greeted the action.
Just like what played out in the case of Oniru, Saheed Elegushi was also imposed as the Oba of Ikateland at the expense of other aspirants to the throne.
Saheed, the third son and the sixth child of his father who worked closely with Tinubu before he became an Oba, however insist that his ascension to the stool was divine.
“If God has destined you for a position, there is nothing you can do about it. When I was younger and the wise men told my father that I was a future king, it was like a joke to me. As a civil servant, I was aspiring to go to the House of Representatives, and I had even set up my campaign office. I thank God for where I am today because it is only death that can take me away from this position”, he said in an interview.
