Olalekan Folorunsho, also known as Lekan Salami, the Southwest Zonal Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has called on the President Bola Tinubu-led government to intervene and call Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, to order.
MC Oluomo recently caused controversy by emerging as the NURTW President in an election held in Osogbo, Osun State, which was widely seen as unpopular. However, this election was invalidated following a ruling by the Appeal Court.
SaharaReporters reported on Friday that the appellate court, in a unanimous judgment delivered on November 8, upheld the March 11, 2024 ruling of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, which affirmed the re-election of Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa as the NURTW National President.
In a statement released on Monday, Olalekan emphasized that the government should not be associated with the ongoing “gangsterism” within the union. He clarified that MC Oluomo was not a member of the NURTW, noting that in 2022, Oluomo had torn his NURTW identity card and announced his departure from the union after being queried by the national leadership. Olalekan stated that, to this day, there is no record of Oluomo returning to the union.
Olalekan also addressed the issue of Alhaji Moshood Ajao, a former Secretary of the union, who he claimed had been posing as a leader of the NURTW in Osun State. He warned Ajao against continuing to do so, stating that he had no right to such a position as a retired officer who had already received his entitlements.
The statement read in part: “It has been brought to my attention that a former Secretary of our Union, Alhaji Moshood Ajao has been parading himself as a leader of the NURTW in Osun State. I wish to state that Alhaji Ajao has no right to such position like Union Leader as he is a career officer who has retired and has been paid his entitlements.
“The Constitution of our Union only recognizes the former Chairmen of the Union in states as leaders, and in the case of Osun State, only two persons have such privileges – myself and Alhaji Nasiru Komolafe – the two surviving Chairmen of the Union. I want to warn Alhaji Ajao to desist from such act as it is tantamount to impersonation....Read Full Article [Click Here>]
“Let me state here that MC Oluomo is not a member of our Union. The whole world would recall that MC Oluomo in 2022 tore the identity card of the NURTW when he said he was leaving the Union. He left because he was queried by the national leadership, and till today, we don’t have record of him returning to our folds.
“Our Constitution stipulates that a returning member will write officially, and his letter will be considered by the National leadership. If the consideration favors him, he’ll at least spend two years before seeking any office. In fact, such a person will start from the unit chairman and move through the ranks. This has not been done by him.
“It is so sad that people like Chief Omotayo Falope aka Oloforo, who was present at the election of Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa in his home state, could just jump the ship and start working against the Union. The election of Baruwa was held in Ekiti, and Oloforo and his co-travelers, such as Mustapha Ismail aka Yaro Ade, the Ogun State factional Chairman, were part of the elections of Baruwa in Ekiti. I dare them to deny this. We have pictorial and video evidence available for them.
“Moreover, the kangaroo elections lack legitimacy. Three southwestern states—Osun, Oyo, and Lagos, where MC Oluomo came from—were not represented. Ogun has factions, and the other faction was not part of the process. Doesn’t that show unacceptability?
“On Baruwa, the Constitution is clear. Baruwa’s tenure is still on, and the Appeal Court has affirmed that. The NURTW in Osun State remains with the leadership of Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa.”
Olalekan concluded his statement by urging the federal government to intervene and call MC Oluomo to order, asserting that he believed the government would never support the ongoing “gangsterism.” He emphasized the importance of respecting the sanctity of the judiciary in this matter.
