How I Was Attacked By MC Oluomo’s Boys, Framed By Lagos Policemen – TOOAN Chairman, Istijabah
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In this interview with Deji Lambo, the Lagos State Chairman, Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria, Azeez Abiola, aka Istijabah, gives an account of how he was allegedly attacked by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers led by the state Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo Kindly give us an insight into your background.
I am Alhaji Azeez Abiola, aka Istijabah. I went to primary and secondary schools. After my secondary studies, I learnt mechanic work at Shasha in Akowonjo. After I finished my training, I ventured int transport business, starting as a conductor.
Back then, we used to convey passengers from Shasha to Oshodi; from Oshodi to Mushin; from Mushin to Ijora; and sometimes when we got to Ijora and there were passengers, we would convey them to Idumota. Gradually, I became a driver, and started driving a molue bus with registration number AG 452 MUS owned by Alhaji Adanitan, who is still alive.
After driving for 10 years, I collected a molue bus with registration number AP 74 MUS, on hire purchase from Alhaji Adanitan. I completed the payment after about one and a half years. He felt encouraged by my tenacity and gave me another bus. With the two buses, I was able to save money to buy two other buses by myself.
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After ‘hustling’ for about 15 years, I went
back to my mechanic work. Because
someone helped me to get to where I was
I decided to also raise people by buying
and giving them buses on hire purchase.
So far, I have given about 2,000 people
vehicles on hire purchase and they are
now owners.
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At what point did you start transport unio
activities?
Initially, I never had interest in transport
union activities; I disliked their activities
because of the atrocities they commit.
During the era of Olohunwa, he tried to
convince me to join but I declined. I also
declined when Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede
became the state Chairman, NURTW. Late
on, I accepted (to join). And the major
reason why I joined was because almost
all the buses conveying passengers from
Oshodi to Sango, belonged to me. I was
losing a lot because of the money union
members were collecting on those buses
daily. So, when I joined the union, Agbede
made me a branch Chairman at Kola and
reduced the levy union members usually
collect from drivers and they were happy.
I realised that many people interested in
the tricycle business had no one to give
them tricycle on hire purchase, so, I
started giving them and as a result of
that, all the atrocities in Agbado area of
the state stopped.
When Alhaji Agbede heard about the
impact I was making in the tricycle sector
particularly the fact that I had empowered
over 3,000 people with tricycles on hire
purchase, he said at my level, I needed to
monitor the tricycle sector. Since then, I
have been in the tricycle sector. At first, I
was the Vice Chairman of the Lagos State
Chapter, Tricycle Owners and Operators
Association of Nigeria. ADVERTISEMENT
Was there any disagreement between
TOOAN and NURTW before now?
Before Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya became
the state Chairman, National Union of
Road Transport Workers, TOOAN and
NURTW operated in harmony. But
immediately he became the chairman, he
decided to dissolve TOOAN. He connived
with Wasiu Ayinde who has no business
with the union.
He (Akinsanya) dissolved TOOAN and
divided it into five zones and brought one
man, Gaji, who is the manager to Wasiu
Ayinde, and made him the zonal chairman
Gaji was never a member of our union. H
also brought Kamali Pappy from Oshodi
and also made him a zonal chairman.
When he saw that my refused to keep
silent, he made me a zonal chairman and
chased all the state executives of TOOAN
away. I was the only one left, so member
of the TOOAN BOT and myself complaine
to the national body in Abuja. That was
the genesis of the problem with TOOAN
and NURTW in the state. ADVERTISEMENT
After complaining to the NURTW national
body, what happened and how were you
appointed as the state Chairman, TOOAN?
After a series of compliants, our National
President, NURTW, Tajudeen Baruwa,
invited us for a meeting in Abuja.
Baruwa’s national executives were there,
all the Lagos State executives of NURTW
were there, including the state chairman,
Musiliu Akinsanya, members of TOOAN
board of trustees were also there, among
others.
The media were also invited to cover the
meeting. At the meeting, BOT members of
TOOAN, including the chairman, said
since Akinsanya became the NURTW
chairman in Lagos State, he hijacked
TOOAN activities and that TOOAN, which
is affiliated to NURTW, has its own body
separately.
Akinsanya was told at the meeting that it
was unconstitutional to hijack our
activities. At the meeting, the BOT
members were asked who they wanted to
head TOOAN in Lagos State and they
mentioned my name.
On that same January 9, 2022, I was
appointed the Lagos State Chairman,
TOOAN, and the National Coordinator,
Tricycle Sectors in Nigeria. The National
President, NURTW also made the
announcement and told me and other
appointees to wait to collect our letters of
appointment.
He also said the appointment letter shoul
be sent to the Inspector-General of Police
Assistant Inspector-General of Police;
Department of Security Services in Abuja
and Lagos, as well as all the security
agents across the country.
What were the disturbing developments
that occurred after your appointment?
After I was appointed in Abuja, I booked
flight to Lagos. As I got to the airport in Ikeja, I received a text message from Akinsanya, notifying me of an emergency meeting the following day. On January 10, I called the state chairman, thanked him for his support. He said the meeting was very important and I told him I would be there. I got to the venue around 11am, got down from my vehicle and went straight to sign attendance. I was signing when somebod suddenly slapped me from behind. As I turned back, I saw that it was one of Akinsanya’s boys, called Ajiroba. I was questioning his audacity when about 20 of Akinsanya’s boys descended on me and two of my excos, Kazeem Akinbode and Saheed. I had the grace to rush to my car and as I entered, I told my driver to lock the doors. But my boys were unlucky as they pinned them down and beat them mercilessly. They have been hospitalised and responding to treatment. Akinsanya’s boys started attacking my vehicle but could not gain entry; it was Allah that protected me. I stayed in the car for over one hour and 30 minutes and was just praying and reciting Quranic verses. Akinsanya, who told his boys to lock the gate to prevent my driver from driving out, later came down, and told me to open the door but I declined. I told him his plan was to take my life. He told me I want to waste my life and that my appointment would not stand. I told him my appointment did not affect his position but he said I should not worry, that he had called the police to arrest me. He said I was being deceived as he is an Asiwaju’s boy and that no one but him could put anyone in any position. I told him the same national president tha appointed me put him in that position. What happened when operatives of the Rapid Respond Squad came to the venue of the meeting?
Initially, five policemen came and told me to get down but I refused because they were few. They later called for reinforcement and about 30 policemen came. At that point Akinsanya started shouting that there was a gun inside my vehicle. I allowed them to search my vehicle and they found no gun. He even joined the policemen in the search but I monitored closely. So, we later went to th RRS office.
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I was writing my statement at the RRS
office when I heard that a gun was
recovered from my boys. I said the boys
that followed me were the two injured
victims and my police escorts. I requeste
to see the policeman who found the gun
and questioned him as to where he got
the gun.
He confessed that he never recovered the
gun from my boys or me. The policeman
said he saw the gun on the ground after I
left the premises. The second in
command at the RRS office asked for the
gun and found no bullet in it.
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How come the RRS posted your
photograph with a gun?
What happened was that the case was
transferred to the state Commissioner of
Police. But before I left RRS office, one of
the officers said they wanted to take my
picture. I asked why but was told it was a
normal thing. I obliged and the officer tol
me to stay at the front of a car and took
my picture without a gun. ADVERTISEMENT
So, I left for the CP’s office but he was
not around. I later wrote another
statement at the police headquarters and
was released me on bail. After being
released, I immediately switched on my
phone and started receiving calls that I
was seen with a gun. I checked it on
Facebook and saw my picture with a gun.
I felt very bad. I contacted the RRS but I
was told that their media team was
responsible for the post and that they
have warned him. I said the whole world
had seen the lies they put out. I felt bad
and couldn’t sleep. The state chairman, al
the state NURTW executives and I met
with the CP the following day.
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The CP told Akinsanya that he was the
cause of the problem. He said he was the
one that invited me and asked how come
was attacked. He said the only solution
was for him to apologise to me otherwise
if the police commence investigation, it
would turn into another thing.
In the presence of the CP, the NURTW
state chairman apologised and agreed
that all the tricycles in Lagos State would
be under my care. But I told him I was no
the authority and that everything would be
reported to the national body in Abuja
where I was appointed.
Did you complain to the CP about the
online post indicating you were arrested
with a gun?
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I told the CP that the police posting my
picture with a gun online was the most
serious issue and that I want to know the
policemen who did it. The CP was also
surprised when I showed him the
Facebook post and he became furious,
called the RRS commander and asked for
who did it, especially when no gun was
recovered from me.
The commander said it was the media
team that did it and that he was not
aware. I also talked to the commander an
he apologised. But I will take all
necessary steps on the issue because my
image is very important to me.