NURTW 137 views

Something About Company

MC Oluomo emerges NURTW President – Guardian Newspaper

MC Oluomo’s Controversial Rise: From Transport Union Leader to National NURTW President

In a development that has triggered both event and issue throughout Nigeria’s transportation sector, Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya Akinsanya, commonly known as MC Oluomo, has emerged as the National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) following an agreement election by union stakeholders and delegates.

The election, which took place at the Union’s Zonal Secretariat along the Osogbo/Ikirun roadway in Osun State, marks a substantial milestone in the questionable figure’s profession trajectory while raising severe concerns about the crossway of transportation unions and political power in Nigeria.

The Rise to Power

Delegates from 4 South-West states– Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti– participated in the election, which saw MC Oluomo as the sole candidate.

The procedure was monitored by the acting National President of the union, Aliyu Issa-Ore, represented by Mrs. Adedamola Salam, Head of Finance from the National Headquarters in Abuja.

The election also led to the consultation of Tajudeen Agbede as Vice President of South-West and Akeem Adeosun as trustee from the zone.

In his acceptance speech, MC Oluomo called for unity within the union, stating, “I have forgiven everybody who upset me, and I wish those I angered would forgive me also. This is our union, and we should be committed to its conservation. We will not permit anyone to destroy our methods of income.”

A Controversial Past

Nevertheless, MC Oluomo’s ascension to the nationwide presidency includes significant baggage and controversy.

Claims of violence, political intimidation, and the weaponization of transport union structures for political purposes marked his period as the chairman of the Lagos State chapter of NURTW.

Most especially, during the 2023 basic elections, MC Oluomo gained national attention for his questionable role in election-related violence and citizen intimidation.

He was recorded on video making threats against Igbo citizens in Lagos State, warning them to either choose the judgment All Progressives Congress (APC) or stay at home. While he later declared the statement was a joke made to a pal nicknamed “Iya Chukwudi,” the incident resulted in widespread condemnation and requires his arrest.

The consequences of his threats emerged in election day violence, where political punks presumably carried out civil-war-era-style “eye tests” to recognize Igbo citizens, preventing lots of from exercising their democratic rights. These actions resulted in the production of a petition requiring worldwide travel bans against him, citing his function in prompting ethnic violence.

Opposition and Concerns

The Concerned Transporters in South West of Nigeria, a group of transportation workers, has emphatically opposed MC Oluomo’s rise to power. In a communique signed by Comrade Taiwo Ariyo and Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim, the group mentioned his questionable leadership design and alleged use of union resources for individual gain as significant issues.

The group specified, “MC Oluomo’s management style is undesirable. He utilized union resources for individual gain, ignoring members’ welfare.” They also raised issues about his ability to successfully lead the nationwide body, indicating his history of conflicts with previous leaders and his questionable management style.

The NURTW’s Evolution

The NURTW, formed in 1978 as a successor to the Nigerian Road Transport Union, has developed from an easy trade union into a powerful political force. With almost 2 million members, the union has actually become deeply embedded in Nigeria’s political landscape, typically functioning as an essential grassroots mobilization tool for political leaders.

The union’s structure, which extends from major cities to remote locations, has actually made it an attractive partner for political actors looking for to develop control over local communities. This has resulted in transforming what was originally a transportation employees’ union into what some critics describe as an advanced network for political mobilization and, often, intimidation.

Political Influence and Violence

MC Oluomo’s increase exhibits the complex relationship in between transport unions and political power in Nigeria. As recorded in numerous reports, he has been instrumental in the Southwest’s political campaigns and mobilization efforts, including noteworthy participation in the 2018 Osun State governorship election and subsequent political contests.

His methods of operation have actually often been slammed for blurring the lines in between genuine union activities and political thuggery. Throughout the 2023 elections, his company was accused of interfering with ballot units and daunting citizens, particularly those viewed to be opposition fans.

Legal Challenges and Institutional Response

The questionable nature of MC Oluomo’s management has resulted in different legal challenges. Significant amongst these was a court order during the 2023 elections that prevented INEC from engaging his services to distribute election products in Lagos State, highlighting concerns about the politicization of necessary electoral procedures.

Future Implications

As MC Oluomo assumes the nationwide leadership of the NURTW, questions stay about the union’s future direction and function in Nigeria’s political landscape.

While his fans celebrate his capability to maintain order and structure within the transport sector, critics fret about the potential across the country expansion of what they view as an unsafe combination of transportation union power and political impact.

The appointment also raises more comprehensive questions about the need for reform within Nigeria’s transport union structure and the relationship in between labour unions and political power.

As the nation continues to come to grips with concerns of democratic consolidation and ethnic consistency, the function of prominent union leaders like MC Oluomo will likely remain a subject of extreme debate and scrutiny.

This advancement serves as a defining moment for reflection on the state of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the impact of non-state actors in the nation’s political processes.

As MC Oluomo starts his tenure as National President, his actions will be closely watched by advocates and critics alike, with considerable implications for the transport sector and Nigeria’s more comprehensive political landscape.