*Why Police declared him wanted
+ Yasin, Kunle Poly, union members react
Pandemonium broke out on last Tuesday on the 8th of January 2019, during the inauguration of the campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu at the Sky Power Ground, Oba Akinjobi Road, Ikeja, Lagos, as hoodlums suspected to be members of the National Union Road Transport Workers, NURTW, invaded the campaign flag-off and engaged in a supremacy battle.
Among those who reportedly sustained gunshot injuries during the clash were the Group Political Editor of The Nation, Emmanuel Oladesu; a correspondent with New Telegraph, Temitope Ogunbanke; and a cameraman with Ibile Television, Abiodun Yusuf.
The hoodlums invaded the venue with guns, daggers and other dangerous weapons, engaging one another in a bloody factional fight. The campaign, however, ended abruptly as violence broke out mid-way into the well-attended programme. Be factual in your reportage, Lagos state government admonishes journalists the situation sent panic across the campaign ground as party members ran in different directions to avoid being hit by bullets being fired indiscriminately by the hoodlums. Security operatives had a hectic time controlling the situation.
After the historical event Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, CSP Chike Oti, confirmed the incident and declared one of the top shot of NURTW, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Seigo, wanted for attempting to disrupt the APC rally.
Those who witness the rally and narrowly escape been injured kept wondering why Seigo was declared wanted because many on grand believed that some loyal boys to another union top shot, Azeez Adekunle Lawal popularly known as Kunle Poly were the cause of the mayhem.
While some alleged it was because Kunle Poly was on stage with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (k1) and enjoying praises by K1which they (Seigo and Mc Oluomo) was not privilege to that is why Seigo, an NURTW chieftain, whom was said to have attended the rally with his supporters unleash the mayhem on APC supporters enjoying good music of K1 at the front stage of the event without affecting or disrupt the ongoing speech of Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.
However, MC Oluomo, another NURTW chieftain, was beaten to stupor with dangerous weapons and was reportedly, stabbed on his cheek and was rushed to Eko Hospital where he was said to be recuperating, while two other victims of the attack were taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
The crisis was quickly contained by policemen at the venue.
“It will be recalled that a few hours before the rally started, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, held a meeting with the leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and other affiliate groups where all the parties agreed to eschew violence before, during and after the electioneering.
“It was therefore surprising that a prominent member of NURTW would attempt to violently disrupt a peaceful political rally.
“Meanwhile, Police spokesman Chike Oti said two persons have been arrested in connection with the incident and urged Adekunle to come out and clear himself”.
He said: “This matter is not debatable, it is on camera. Sego was caught on camera unleashing violence on people. That is the reason he was declared wanted. It is not a case of peddling falsehood or perception, it is about reality. Our declaration of Sego wanted still stands. Whatever anybody has to say on the matter, such a person should come to the police. You do not resort to violence to resolve issues.”
Adekunle last Friday challenged the police to release the video evidence for the world to see.
He said: “Whoever has any videotape of Sego unleashing mayhem on people should let the world see it. Whosoever has any evidence against Sego should come forward with it. That’s what I want. Anybody can fight for his right with his mouth by speaking against what he feels is not right. Besides, employing the use of a weapon is against the law and nobody on Tuesday can say he or she saw me with any weapon.
“For emphasis, I did not hold any weapon on that day. I only spoke against what is not right. I went to the rally as a member of Team Lagos and not on behalf of the union. I have been a party member since 1999 and we have been in Team Lagos since then. Go and ask Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Oba Demola Elegushi, APC state Chairman Tunde Balogun and King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal what Team Lagos stands for. I was at the rally under the banner of Team Lagos. Agbede came under the banner of the union (NURTW).”
Our further findings, however, reveal a video where Seigo was seen challenging the men of the Nigeria Police, telling them to leave his boys to carry out the violence.
“In the video we saw Seigo who came out beside K1 stage to meet the Task Force and telling them not to chase those boys (his alleged boys). After telling them that he went back to that same area (beside the stage) and those boys with different king of weapons including guns came out and shot a guy at leg while chasing others with weapons. In the video there was nowhere Kunle Poly show whether abusing, confronting, fighting or instruct/encourage any boys there to attack or fight.
Also, our investigation report indicts some notable Lagos Island boys (handlooms) who appear in the video to have disrupt the APC rally. The likes of Kazeem Olokodana, Tessy leader, Smart, Habeeb, Fela, Ike Owo, Ige Fema those are the few that can be recognise in the video.
At this point we want the people to watch the video on our site to have a better understanding of what happen that day.
In lieu, we try to get in touch with Seigo and Kunle Poly to react to the role they play in the crises and why their boys was allegedly attacking each other but was futile as their numbers are not go through.
Thought, the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW, Alhaji Najeem Yasin, has summoned members of the State Administrative Council (SAC) to an emergency meeting in Abuja.
“This is to get to the root of the violence in which some members of the union were mentioned as active participants,” he said.
The union under his leadership, he said, would do everything possible to unravel the role played by all members of the union mentioned in connection with the violence “and whoever that is found wanting or involved directly or indirectly will be dealt with in accordance with the union’s constitution.”
Yasin said members of the union as law abiding citizens are free to belong to any party, stressing, however, that they should be careful not to drag the name of the union into partisan politics.
“Our union, NURTW, is not affiliated to any party. We are an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Our members are free to belong to any party of their choice. Members who attend political rallies do so on a personal note and not in the name of the union,” he added.
NURTW assured citizens that its leadership will not allow anyone or group of persons to drag its name in the mud.
It said the union is working hard to get rid of some bad elements using its name for their selfish interest.
“In view of the development, the Command wishes to encourage members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of Mustapha Adekunle popularly known as Seigo to report such at a nearest police station.
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