By Akinwale Kasali
The Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Lagos State Chapter, Musiliu Akinsanya , popularly known as MC Oluomo, could be suspended by the National Body of the NURTW led by Alhaji Tajudeeb Baruwa for alleged insubordination, indulging in anti-union activities and instigating the crisis in Lagos which led to the killings in Lagos Island area of the State.
MC Oluomo had earlier been queried by the National Body in a letter dated February 14, 2022, and signed by the General Secretary of the union, Alhaji Kabiru Ado Yau. It accused Akinsanya of refusing to carry out directives given to him in by the National body.
The letter reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the fact that despite the National Secretariat’s directives during a meeting with you and other members of the Lagos State Administrative Council (SAC) in Abuja on February 9, pertaining the appointment of Alhaji Azeez Abiola, popularly known as Istijabah, as chairman, Lagos State NURTW Tricycle Operators, you have refused to comply. Instead, you have resorted to intimidation and assault on the newly appointed tricycle chairman.”
The National body added that Akinsanya refused to hand over the former NURTW Secretariat situated at Abule Egba to the Tricycle Caretaker Committee in a bid to prevent them from using the office.
MC Oluomo was also accused by the National body of using thugs to forcefully take over branches of his perceived enemies.
“It is on record that you mobilised thugs to forcefully take over the operations of some local branches headed by perceived opponents. To avoid the wrath of the union, the national headquarters, directed M C Oluomo to within 48 hours hand over the former state council secretariat at Abule Egba to the newly appointed Lagos state Tricycle Committee; withdraw all those men you sent to take over the branches of your perceived opponents and submit a written apology to the national secretariat.
“Failure to comply with the foregoing directives will leave the National Secretariat with no option other than to take disciplinary action against you in line with the provisions of the union’s constitution,” the letter reads.
It was reported that Akinsanya got the query in his office on Friday (February 25) as against February 14.
MC Oluomo had been at loggerheads with Istijabah since he was appointed the Chairman of TOOAN, and after a series of compliants to the NURTW National President who invited the duo for a meeting in Abuja, with Baruwa’s national executives also present including all the Lagos State executives of NURTW were there, including the members of TOOAN board of trustees were also there, among others.
The Media was also invited to cover the meeting. At the meeting, BOT members of TOOAN, including the Chairman, said since MC Oluomo became the NURTW chairman in Lagos State, he hijacked TOOAN activities and that TOOAN, which is affiliated to NURTW, has its own body separately.
It was gathered that at the meeting MC Oluomo was told that it was unconstitutional to hijack TOOAN activities.
According to Istijabah who raised alarm over threat to his life by MC Oluomo in an interview with Punch Newspaper; “At the meeting, the BOT members were asked who they wanted to head TOOAN in Lagos State and they mentioned my name.
“On that same February 9, 2022, I was appointed the Lagos State Chairman, TOOAN, and the National Coordinator, Tricycle Sectors in Nigeria. The National President, NURTW also made the announcement and told me and other appointees to wait to collect our letters of appointment.
“He also said the appointment letter should be sent to the Inspector-General of Police; Assistant Inspector-General of Police; Department of Security Services in Abuja and Lagos, as well as all the security agents across the country.
“ After I was appointed in Abuja, I booked a flight to Lagos. As I got to the airport in Ikeja, I received a text message from Akinsanya, notifying me of an emergency meeting the following day. On February 10, I called the state chairman, thanked him for his support.
“He said the meeting was very important and I told him I would be there. I got to the venue around 11.00am, got down from my vehicle and went straight to sign attendance. I was signing when somebody suddenly slapped me from behind. As I turned back, I saw that it was one of Akinsanya’s boys, called Ajiroba. I was questioning his audacity when about 20 of Akinsanya’s boys descended on me and two of my excos, Kazeem Akinbode and Saheed. I had the grace to rush to my car and as I entered, I told my driver to lock the doors. But my boys were unlucky as they pinned them down and beat them mercilessly. They have been hospitalised and responding to treatment.
“ Akinsanya’s boys started attacking my vehicle but could not gain entry; it was Allah that protected me. I stayed in the car for over one hour and 30 minutes and was just praying and reciting Quranic verses. Akinsanya, who told his boys to lock the gate to prevent my driver from driving out, later came down, and told me to open the door but I declined. I told him his plan was to take my life. He told me I want to waste my life and that my appointment would not stand.
I told him my appointment did not affect his position but he said I should not worry, that he had called the police to arrest me. He said I was being deceived as he is an Asiwaju’s boy and that no one but him could put anyone in any position. I told him the same national president that appointed me put him in that position.
“Initially, five policemen came and told me to get down but I refused because they were few. They later called for reinforcement and about 30 policemen came. At that point Akinsanya started shouting that there was a gun inside my vehicle. I allowed them to search my vehicle and they found no gun. He even joined the policemen in the search but I monitored closely. So, we later went to the RRS office.
“I was writing my statement at the RRS office when I heard that a gun was recovered from my boys. I said the boys that followed me were the two injured victims and my police escorts. I requested to see the policeman who found the gun and questioned him as to where he got the gun.
“He confessed that he never recovered the gun from my boys or me. The policeman said he saw the gun on the ground after I left the premises. The second in command at the RRS office asked for the gun and found no bullet in it.
“What happened was that the case was transferred to the state Commissioner of Police. But before I left RRS office, one of the officers said they wanted to take my picture. I asked why but was told it was a normal thing. I obliged and the officer told me to stay at the front of a car and took my picture without a gun.
So, I left for the CP’s office but he was not around. I later wrote another statement at the police headquarters and was released me on bail. After being released, I immediately switched on my phone and started receiving calls that I was seen with a gun. I checked it on Facebook and saw my picture with a gun.
I felt very bad. I contacted the RRS but I was told that their media team was responsible for the post and that they have warned him. I said the whole world had seen the lies they put out. I felt bad and couldn’t sleep. The state chairman, all the state NURTW executives and I met with the CP the following day.
“The CP told Akinsanya that he was the cause of the problem. He said he was the one that invited me and asked how come I was attacked. He said the only solution was for him to apologise to me otherwise if the police commence investigation, it would turn into another thing.
In the presence of the CP, the NURTW state chairman apologised and agreed that all the tricycles in Lagos State would be under my care. But I told him I was not the authority and that everything would be reported to the national body in Abuja where I was appointed”.
There are speculations that MC Oluomo could be suspended by the National Body because of his excesses, insurbodination, abuse of power and trampling on the fundamental rights of perceived enemies.
