The Lagos chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has reelected Musiliu ‘MC Oluomo’ Akinsanya as chairman for a second term.
Mr Akinsanya, along with his deputy, Sulyman Ojora, Mustapha ‘Sego’ Adekunle (treasurer) and 20 others, were elected unopposed on Thursday at the 10th Quadrennial State Delegates Conference held at the NURTW’s secretariat in Agege.
The reelected executive members were sworn in by Adejare Kembi, the principal of Excel Practitioners, in the presence of NURTW’s acting national president, Aliyu Issa Ore, former national secretary Kabiru Ado Yau, controller at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (Lagos), Eshomounu Itemoagbo and others.
Until the reelection, MC Oluomo and the union’s national leadership based in Abuja had been at loggerheads.
Reacting to his reelection, Mr Akinsanya commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, NURTW, and other stakeholders for supporting him during the crisis that rocked the union in Lagos, resulting in his suspension. Following that, there were reports of a violent power tussle in Abuja to topple NURTW’s leadership.
In the heat of the crisis, Mr Sanwo-Olu disbanded NURTW in Lagos in favour of MC Oluomo, an APC enforcer. The Independent National Electoral Commission named MC Oluomo its official transporter during the 2023 general elections in the South-West.
MC Oluomo praised the Lagos NURTW members’ loyalty toward him, vowing to transform the union.
A director at the Lagos transport ministry, Lateef Tiamiyu, who represented Mr Sanwo-Olu, hailed the union members for reelecting MC Oluomo, praising his exemplary leadership qualities and ability to reform the union.
Mr Ore hailed the reelection of MC Oluomo and other executive members.
“Those who will emerge victorious from this election must serve in such a way that demonstrates exemplary leadership, capacity and sacrifice,” the NURTW president stated. “Both the leadership and followership must strive through a collaborative effort to turn the union fortune for the better.”
He advised that “those elected must carry others along.”
“I therefore urge you all to within your limitations try as much as possible to run an open administration that will be devoid of victimization and committed to fairness, equity, and justice so that unity and harmony will prevail amongst others and members of this great union at the various levels,” Mr Ore stressed.
