Tensions are brewing in Oyo State’s transport sector as the state chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Abideen Olajide, known as Ejiogbe, has sounded the alarm over alleged moves by Lagos transport boss Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, also called MC Oluomo, to destabilize the union’s leadership in the state.
At a press conference in Ibadan on Thursday, Ejiogbe, who also serves as a national trustee of the NURTW, accused MC Oluomo and his associate, Samuel Kayode Agbeyangi, of holding secret meetings in Ibadan with a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Their alleged agenda? To stir unrest and infiltrate the Oyo transport sector through political influence.
“These individuals visited Ibadan and had several meetings, including one with a PDP leader. We have credible information that their mission is to escalate the crisis within the NURTW by leveraging political backing to gain access to the governor,” Ejiogbe warned.
The NURTW in Oyo State has been in turmoil, caught in a power struggle that has tested the patience of transport workers and commuters alike. However, Ejiogbe insists that no external forces should interfere in the union’s affairs, especially those with a history of violent takeovers in other states.
“We don’t need any illegal group to intervene on our behalf. Governor Seyi Makinde is our leader, and we are in dialogue with him, hoping for a positive resolution that will allow us to contribute to the state’s revenue,” he said.
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The transport boss painted a picture of an organized, law-abiding union that has sought peaceful resolution for over six years without resorting to violence. He dismissed Akinsanya and Agbeyangi as “outlawed individuals” in the NURTW hierarchy and reaffirmed that legal processes were already underway to resolve the union’s ongoing disputes with the state government.
Beyond the political wrangling, the real concern lies in maintaining peace in Oyo’s transportation sector, a critical lifeline for thousands of residents who rely on commercial vehicles for their daily commute. Ejiogbe urged Governor Makinde to stand firm against any external pressures that could disrupt the hard-earned stability of the state.
He also reaffirmed his loyalty to Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, the recognized national president of the NURTW, stating, “We stand firmly with Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, who is the legitimate president of the NURTW, as recognized by law and widely accepted across the Southwest and the entire country.”