November 17, (THEWILL) – For ex-Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Lagos State Chapter, Mr Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly called MC Oluomo, last Saturday was the fulfilment of a dream come true when he was elected the new national president of the union.
Akinsanya was the only candidate who participated in the election. All other participants were delegates from only the Southwest zone of the union, which has branches across the country.
From four South-West states of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti they all came for the election held at the Union’s Zonal Secretariat located on Osogbo/Ikirun Road last Saturday.
Understandably, no delegate came from Oyo State. Following the leadership crisis that rocked the state at a time, Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration banned the union because of alleged security breaches caused by repeated factional clashes of its members in Ibadan, the state capital.
Even so, Akinsayan’s election, which took place at the 19th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the union, held at the NURTW Zone 2 headquarters, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital amid fanfare.
It was supervised by the acting National President of the group, Aliyu Issa-Ore, who was represented by Mrs Adedamola Salam, the Head of Finance, National Headquarters in Abuja.
Delivering Issa-Ore’s address at the occasion, Mrs Salam gave an explanation for what looked like a zonal affair dressed in national gab.
She said the union’s constitution set down criteria for the election in a sense that the South-West zone was next to produce the National President of the union after which the chosen one would be presented to the national body.
She said, “The South-West zone has fully complied with the constitution in electing Oluomo as the President.” And so, the delegates went ahead to do their job and elected Akinsaya as National President, while Tajudeen Agbede emerged as Vice President, South-West and Akeem Adeosun as Trustee from the Zone.
Ekiti State Branch Chairman of the Union, Joseph Falope nominated Oluomo as president and he was seconded by Ademola Ojude from the Ondo State branch.
In his post -election speech, Akinsanya called for peace to reign in the crisis that plagued the leadership of the union last year and gave his commitment to pursue unity among members.
According to him “I have forgiven everyone that offended me and I wish that those I offended will forgive me. This is our union and we must be committed to its preservation. We will not allow anyone to destroy our means of livelihood.”
Not so fast for some aggrieved members, who thought the election was in violation of a subsisting court order and the constitution of the union.
Disputing Mrs Salam’s position, a claimant to the position of National President of the union, Tajudeen Baruwa, said the inauguration of Akinsanya, was both illegal and unconstitutional.
According to Baruwa’s lawyer, Mr Tolu Babaleye, the inauguration of MC Oluomo as the National President of NURTW was without recourse to the judgment of both the National Industrial Court and Appeal Court that affirmed his client as the leader of the transport union.
He said the inauguration of MC Oluomo as a factional President of NURTW violated the constitution of the union that guarantees the tenure of the offices of the leadership.
“From all indications, it appears that a faction sat and decided on its own, having no recourse to the constitution of the union, or to the decision and judgment of the court and decided to select a random individual as the President of the reunion.”
Babaleye said Baruwa was sworn in as the President of NURTW in accordance with the constitution of the union in 2023 and a faction of the union led by a former President, Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin, contesting the results of the election of the union, decided to put up a caretaker committee.
Baruwa went to court to ask for proper interpretation of unfolding events according to the union’s laid down rules.
He said a suit was instituted at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria and judgment was delivered in his client’s favour on tMarch 11, 2024 by Hon. Justice O.O. Oyewumi, dissolving the illegal Caretaker Committee.
Unsatisfied with the judgment of the court, Yasin appealed the judgement and the Court of Appeal, on November 8, 2024, dismissed Yasin’s appeal and affirmed the judgment of the National Industrial Court, barring Yasin from interfering in the day-to-day running of the union as led by Baruwa.
“To our utmost surprise however, even before this decision of the honourable court could be celebrated by the victorious party, the news of the inauguration of MC Oluomo as the National President of the Union was announced in flagrant disobedience and disregard of the decision of the court, despite being aware that the tenure of Comrade Baruwa Tajudeen Ibikunle still subsists and running as confirmed by the judgments of the National Industrial Court and Court of Appeal concurring.
“We therefore unequivocally state that Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, Aka Mc Oluomo, is not and cannot be the National President of the Union, and urge that all news stations or platforms parading him as such be disregarded in its entirety.
“We further state that the only legally recognised National President of the Union is Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa Ibikunle and this position has been confirmed by the court. The Attorney-General of the Federation should not standby and allow the judiciary to be rubbished this way.”
In a related development, a group, Arewa Renaissance, rejected the election of Musiliu Akinsanya, describing it as an affront to the judiciary.
Reacting in a statement issued by its Head of investigation, Haliru Nadabo, the Arewa Renaissance, described the election of Oluomo as a direct affront to the judiciary.
The group therefore urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to intervene, warning that failing to act could undermine the authority of judicial verdicts and integrity.
According to the group,”The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice must also look into the matter and invite the affected personalities to address the issue in line with judicial interpretations.
“We cannot allow our judiciary to be rubbished. The holding of elections by MC Oluomo and his cohorts is an affront and confrontation on the judiciary and must not be tolerated.
“Not even the President and Commander in Chief can defy the courts’ ruling, talk more of his political boy.
“It is a known fact that Alhaji Prince Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa was affirmed as the re-elected National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the Najeem and MC Oluomo faction took it to the Appeal Court. The court affirmed Baruwa still as the re-elected president, so why can’t MC Oluomo, Najeem Yasin the board of trustees chairman obey the court verdict?
“Are they better than any Nigerian citizen or above the law? We want the newly sworn-in Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kekere Ekun to prove her competence and neutrality by acting fast and calling the bluff of MC Oluomo and his loyalists.”
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
