Kazeem Oyewale, the acting chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Osun State, has come out to vigorously deny claims that he orchestrated an assassination attempt on Adebayo Adeleke, the popular singer known as B-Red.
The transport leader, who is widely known as Asiri Eniba, described the allegations as a baseless smear campaign aimed at tarnishing his image as the state prepares for the upcoming election cycle.
He maintained that the accusations brought forward by the state government are part of a broader political strategy to frame him and his associates for crimes they did not commit.
The controversy began when the Osun State government, through a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, alleged that B-Red—who is the son of Governor Ademola Adeleke—was targeted by hoodlums linked to Oyewale.
According to the government’s account, the incident occurred around the Oke-Fia area of Osogbo, where the singer’s vehicle was reportedly trailed and almost blocked by armed individuals.
The administration has since called for the immediate arrest of the NURTW boss, citing a need to prevent further breakdown of law and order in the state.
Responding to these claims during a press briefing in Osogbo, Oyewale argued that the state government is simply reviving an old playbook of intimidation that was used against his members in 2022.
He suggested that whenever internal friction occurs within the ruling party or among their allies, the blame is conveniently shifted toward him because of his affiliation with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He questioned the logic behind the accusations, wondering why he would be linked to such a plot.
During the emotional interview, the transport union leader appealed for intervention from the highest levels of national security. Oyewale stated, “I want to call the attention of President Bola Tinubu and the IGP.
They should come to my aid because the governor and the commissioner have called for my arrest over untrue allegations.”
He expressed fear for his life, claiming that he is being trailed by individuals who intend to harm him under the guise of state-sanctioned arrests.
Further highlighting his grievances, the APC chieftain recalled a personal tragedy he suffered during the peak of political tensions two years ago.
He claimed that the violence in the state has already cost him dearly, stating, “They killed my younger brother in November 2022, and till today, his corpse has not been released to us.”
Oyewale used this reference to argue that he is a victim of political persecution rather than a perpetrator of violence.
The NURTW boss also distanced himself from the activities of other political groups, specifically addressing rumors of his involvement with the Accord party. He asked rhetorically, “What is my business with Accord?” to emphasize his focus on his own party and union duties.
He concluded by urging his supporters and union members to stay calm and not succumb to the fear of harassment, insisting that the current administration is merely attempting to paint him as a violent figure to justify his arrest.