By There Is No Faction Of RTEAN, Don’t Mind Mischief Makers – Alhaji Musa Isiwele
By, Uchechukwu Ugboaja
The President of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) Alhaji Musa Shehu Isiwele has debunked any notion of faction in his union, saying that such ideas are the handiwork of mischief makers who are agents of chaos and do not cherish peace in Nigeria.
Alhaji Musa Shehu Isiwele RTEAN President
This reaction is coming from news within the transport union of some members who have vowed to join the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) when a nationwide strike is called upon over the issue of minimum wage review as some of the aggrieved members insist that 18,000 is now very unsustainable in Nigeria today due to the rising cost of food prices across the country.
However, the National President has refuted these claims during an exclusive chat with our reporter in his Abuja office when he reacted to the issue. According to him, “As far as the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) is concerned we do not have any faction go and ask the Federal Ministry of Transport or Ministry of Labour. There is an official gazette printed for all the unions, you will find the name of Alhaji Musa Shehu Isiwele as Executive National President of RTEAN and Ibrahim Yusuf Adeniyi as Secretary-General, so if anyone is saying that there is a group outside this one the person I’d like to say is, unfortunately, telling a lie because there is no faction anywhere.”
In fact, I just received a letter from state house right now inviting me today to speak and it was signed by Femi Adesina, so if we have a faction I wouldn’t be invited to the Villa in such a manner. So I would urge all the members of RTEAN to desist from giving ears to these elements who go even to the extent of lying about themselves, but my word of advice to them as always is to let love lead.”
Describing his journey into the transport sector as a divine act of God he said that he began it in a very humble way before reaching where he is today. “I started my transport business in 1974 with a Peugeot 403 with plate number WAV 916 in Uromi, Edo state and today God has helped me I have about 17 trucks on the road and a few buses with the name ‘MSI Motors’ and ‘Let Love Lead’ which I have been able to employ over 400 staff and I pay the lowest of my drivers N60,000 as well as other good allowances for special duties which a lot of these same people have been complaining about. Why I chose the name Let Love Lead is because if I have love in me, I will want you to grow and become better than me. That is the way I am, most times if you see my drivers you will not know the difference between myself and them because they always look smart and sharp, these are the kind of things I encourage.”
I am a proud Muslim from Uromi in Edo state but I was recently corronated the Are-Agbakin of Awori Kingdom in Lagos State and I am also the Ogungba-Niyi of Oshogbo land in Osun state and these titles are God’s gift not as a result of money. Remember that there is a difference between when you campaign and ask people to vote for you and when people call you out to come and lead them, they will respect you and listen to you better, this is what is happening under my leadership of RTEAN today.”
I am the 19th son of my father born in a polygamous family of about 46 children and so due to the fact that while I was growing up under my father who never allows any form if cheating amongst his children despite their numbers this attitude of accommodating others and being fair to people has been my lifestyle ever since.”
My primary, secondary and technical school was all done in the village where we trek over 6 miles to go to school every day before I got a job at a bakery where I nearly lost my fingers to a very dangerous machine used in producing the bread but luckily one Mr. Alao took me to Benin where I joined the Nigeria Police in 1978 before meeting the late Ado Bayero of Kano who was my mentor throughout my service year.”
Speaking about his persistent smile even as a retired police officer, the Edo born transport entrepreneur attributes it to God. He said, “when you have God even when you’re hungry you will always smile because God is the giver of joy. What peace cannot give crisis can neither give it to you, like I remember when I was in the service my DPO always tells me that a policeman is not supposed to be smiling the way you do all the time but I couldn’t stop it because God has given this cheerful face to me and there is nothing I can do about it, if I am happy or angry you wouldn’t know that is just the way I was created by God.”
