NURTW Accuses Gbajabiamila Of Imposing MC Oluomo As Union President

A factional national leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has alleged that the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, is sponsoring and imposing Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, as the union’s leader.

In an open letter to President Tinubu, signed by NURTW President, Ibikunle Tajudeen Baruwa, the union called for the President’s immediate intervention to address what it described as a “war of attrition” against the organization.

The letter, titled “SOS: A Passionate Appeal for Your Immediate Intervention; Re: War of Attrition Against National Union of Road Transport Workers by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff,” and dated December 24, 2024, accused Gbajabiamila of orchestrating MC Oluomo’s emergence as the union’s president.

The NURTW leadership stated that the controversy destabilizing the union stemmed from Gbajabiamila’s alleged actions, urging the President to take swift steps to resolve the crisis.

MC Oluomo recently secured unanimous votes from all delegates at the Union’s Zone 2 Quadrennial Delegate Conference held in Osogbo, Osun State.

He was nominated by the Ondo State Chairman of the Union, with the nomination seconded by the Ekiti State Chairman.

The Acting National President of the Union, Aliyu Ore, through his representative at the conference, asserted that MC Oluomo’s emergence as president aligns with the Union’s constitution.

But Baruwa in the letter, also endorsed by the Acting General Secretary, Comrade Sulaimon A. Musa and Treasurer, Bello Maduganari, stated, “We, the concerned National Officers and members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), have found it necessary to bring to your attention through this medium, the benighted and awry fate of the Union.

“We wish to draw Your Excellency’s attention to the challenges currently facing the National leadership of the Union, which we believe are exacerbated by certain actions attributed to the Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.”

The letter further read, “The situation leaves no hope of survival for the Union unless there is definitive intervention by your humble self.

“Your Excellency Sir, since last year, there are concerns about actions that appear to undermine the Union’s constitution, allegedly aimed at influencing the leadership structure of the Union in a manner inconsistent with due process.

“We have been keeping quiet, believing that common sense will eventually prevail.

“To that effect and law-abiding citizens, we chose to handle the matter legally, but the situation keeps getting from bad to worse, hence this open letter to your exalted office for intervention.”

The letter explained that on May 24, 2023, Baruwa was duly elected for a second term in office and sworn in on August 21, 2023, in accordance and strict adherence to the provisions of the constitution of the Union.

It noted, “However, on August 28, 2023, it has been reported that a group of individuals forcefully entered the National Secretariat, resulting in the disruption of the duly elected leadership of the Union, and other National officers of the Union in the interest of peace and to avoid bloodshed, we instituted action at the National Industrial Court, Abuja against the illegal action of the former president and legitimate group in suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023.

“The National Industrial Court on the 11th of March 2024, the court delivered judgment in our favour.”

Not satisfied with the judgment of the National Industrial Court, “Our opponents filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja and on November 8, 2024, the Court of Appeal ruled on the matter and affirmed the judgment of the trial court.

“Soon after the Court of Appeal judgment, the former president, Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin purportedly inaugurated Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo) as illegal president of the Union even when the said MC Oluomo did not participate in any election for the presidency of the Union as he was not a member of the Union at the time of the election as he voluntarily existed himself from the Union having publicly denounced his membership of the Union and joined the Lagos state Park Management Committee.

“Sir, we have received information suggesting that certain influential figures may be providing support to individuals acting in defiance of court orders, as contained in the judgments of the National Industrial Court as validated by the Court of Appeal.

“It is on record that there are allegations that some individuals have expressed confidence in their actions based on perceived backing from high-ranking officials, which undermines the rule of law and the judiciary’s authority.

“We are prompted to bring this matter before Your Excellency because we sincerely believe that the “coup de grace” will come from you, being an advocate of democracy and the rule of law.

“Your Excellency Sir, we further employ you to use your good offices to cause a proper scrutiny of the doings of the Chief of Staff, with a view to saving a portentously vicious circle to industrial democracy, nay to political democracy, which the Federal Government has been sparing no resources to plant and enthrone as basis of the Nigeria polity.”