THE emergence of Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (popularly known as MC Oluomo) as the National President of the National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) is now called into question as a challenger is insisting that he is the union’s rightful leader.
Tajudeen Baruwa, supported by court rulings from both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal, is contending that MC Oluomo’s appointment disregards legal decisions and violates the union’s constitution.
Baruwa, who assumed office in 2023, has been engaged in a legal tussle with a faction led by former President Najeem Usman Yasin.
After Baruwa’s election, Yasin’s faction formed a caretaker committee to challenge his leadership.
Baruwa responded by seeking judicial intervention, which led to a favourable ruling in March 2024.
This decision dissolved the caretaker committee and affirmed Baruwa’s position.
However, the conflict escalated when Yasin appealed the ruling.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the appeal earlier this month, confirming Baruwa’s leadership and prohibiting Yasin from further interference in union matters.
These legal victories notwithstanding, MC Oluomo was elected from the Yasin faction, a move that has been described as a direct challenge to the judiciary and the union’s governance structure
Baruwa has, therefore, called on the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure compliance with court orders, asserting his authority as the legally recognized leader of NURTW.
“It appears a faction took it upon itself without regard for the union’s constitution or court decisions, to select a random individual as President,” Baruwa said.
“Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, is not, and cannot be, the National President of the Union,” he stated, urging media outlets to disregard any reports suggesting otherwise.
Eighteen-Eleven Media on Sunday reported that the Southwest Zone of NURTW elected MC Oluomo as the union’s National President on Saturday.
MC Oluomo, a former Lagos State Chairman of NURTW is a loyalist of President Bola Tinubu.
The election took place during its Quadrennial Delegate Conference at its Zonal Secretariat in Osogbo, Osun State. Delegates from the four states, including Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti, participated in the election.
The delegate conference, which was monitored and observed by the acting National President of the union, Aliyu Issa-Ore, stressed that the union’s constitution provided that the zone which turn it is to produce the president, elect and present such a person to the National Secretariat.
The delegate also elected Tajudeen Agbede as its Vice President, Southwest and Akeem Adeosun, as trustee from the zone.
Speaking after taking the oath of office, Oluomo urged every member to allow peace to reign, reiterating his commitment to unity in the union.
Eighteen-Eleven Media