Azeez Ajibola, also known as Istijabah, and Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, two leaders of the transport union in Lagos State, appeared to have sheathed their swords and decided to cooperate.
While MC Oluomo has just been named Chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Management Committee, Istijabah is recognized as the Chairman of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria in Lagos State.
The two commanders have been at odds for months about who would oversee the state’s garages and parking lots, and their lieutenants have frequently engaged in violent altercations in numerous locations throughout the state.
However, according to information obtained by our correspondent from people with knowledge of the situation, the two union leaders were called to a reconciliation meeting this week at the Ministry of Transportation in Alausa.
MC Oluomo, Istijabah, AIG Hakeem Odumosu (retired), the Government Liaison Officer of the state’s parks management committee, and representatives from the transport ministry were among those present at the meeting.
Istijabah said the fight was ended in a video posted to his Facebook page.
Istijabah, who spoke in Yoruba, said, “God has settled the disagreement between myself and MC Oluomo. I said everything I said about him in anger and they were untrue. The people at the Ministry of Transportation have settled the whole matter.
“Presently now, from myself as the Zonal Chairman of Zone C and all the excos and all branch chairman, we have joined the Park and Garages established by the Lagos State Government. The progress of Lagos is our responsibility.”
Additionally, the news was confirmed by MC Oluomo’s publicist, Jimoh Buhari.
He said, “MC Oluomo has agreed to work with Istijabah following the intervention of the state government. They have worked together before and he is ready to work with him again.”
Lagos State Commissioner of Transport, Frederic Oladeinde, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Friday confirmed that the parks management committee had been working on resolving the union crisis in the state. “I don’t see why other unions won’t come under the Parks Committee,” he said.
Also, a governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu assistant who wished to remain anonymous hailed the development and stated that it is in the best interests of the state’s peace and stability.
