Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, is once again in the eye of the storm.
Oluomo is one of the arrowheads of transport unionism in Lagos, and by extension Nigeria.
He has acquired cult of teeming admirers and supporters, especially Nollywood stars who openly fraternise with the union boss, who had chosen Oshodi as his base long before his ascension to the pinnacle of the industry
Recently, he trended on social media for different activities. He became an honorary member of the Institute of Corporate Public Sector Professionals (ICPSP). Also, a photo of the book cover with the title in his name “My Service to Humanity: A Life Changing Experience” surfaced online.
Then another report of the Lagos command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) decorating Oluomo as the agency’s ‘Ambassador of War Against Drug Abuse’ in the state (WADA)’ sparked debates.
Still steeped in controversy, his alleged moves to become the ‘Oba of Oshodi’ elicited a flurry of reactions. His eligibility for the throne became a subject of discussion.
But the Kupoluyi Almoroof family, one of the acclaimed ruling families in Oshodi, announced ‘MC Oluomo’, as its candidate for the traditional stool. They argued the declaration became expedient following an argument over his eligibility.
Instead of the rumour going away, it is keeps getting stronger by the day and the man at the epicenter of it all has not helped douse it by confirming or denying it.
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Now, the crisis rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) deepened after Oluomo pulled the Lagos branch out of the national body.
The national leadership of the union suspended Akinsanya, following weeks of protracted conflict.
He was accused of resorting to intimidation, harassment, and assault on the newly-appointed Chairman, Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria, Azeez Abiola, popularly Istijabah. But he refuted the claim that he instigated members of the union to assault Abiola.
He, however, noted that the legality of the TOOAN operations in the state was a subject of a suit pending before the National Industrial Court.
Subsequently, the NURTW national body in Abuja announced the indefinite suspension of Akinsanya for gross misconduct and directed him to hand over to his deputy.
Reacting, Oluomo in his address titled, ‘Crisis in NURTW’, at the NURTW Secretariat in the Agege area of the Lagos announced his withdrawal and that of other followers from the union. He also asked Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to take over the running of all parks and garages in the state till peace returned to the union.
In a swift move, the governor suspended the activities of the union from all parks and garages with immediate effect
Matters like these among others sustain Oluomo in public glare. But he keeps forging ahead; he keeps weathering the storm. But whether he will bounce back to relevance after the current setback remains to be seen.