For the first time in history, a Minister in charge of Transportation had dropped the aura of his executive office to attend a function organised by the ‘seemingly neglected’ in the Society.
Tricycle and Motorcycle riders popularly called “Okada”, under the aegis of Amalgamated Commercial Tricycles and Motorcycles Owners Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) had penultimate week organized their 2017 day anniversary, with the theme “the role of tricycles and motorcycles in transport development”, with the Transportation Minister Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi as the chief host.
The group has its members cut across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT. As it was in the past governments, the leaders of the group had thought that the Minister would ignore their invitation or possibly delegate someone else to represent him. The leadership of ACOMORAN had also thought that considering public perception about ‘Okada’ men it would be unthinkable for such a high ranking political office holder to dream of attending their occasion.
But to their greatest surprise, the Honorable Minister Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi stormed the event. As a Man of principle who keep to time and a show of humility, Amaechi arrived at the venue of the event before the National Leadership of the group and majority of her members.
The occasion was bid to commence at 11: am with expected Guests arriving at 10:30 am but Amaechi got there at exactly 10:15am with only an insignificant number of members and other invited Guests already seated.
Amaechi arrived the auditorium took his seat and waited for the arrival of the host and other top ranking dignitaries of the National Assembly whom were expected at the event.
Some members of the group who were present when Amaechi arrived the hall were seen making calls here and there probably to alert their leadership and other members about Amaechi’s timely arrival.
Fourty minutes later, leaders and other members of the group including expected dignitaries started arriving. Some of the dignitaries invited were the former Zamfara State governor, Senator Sanni Yerima, Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, and host of others.
Amaechi waited patiently and took his time to welcome those who were meant to welcome him. Amaechi would not give a damn to his political status, he would not underrate anyone.
But before the guests started trooping in those ‘Okada’ riders who were seated before Amaechi arrived were spotted struggling to take pictures with the Honourable Minister.
For some of them it was the first time seeing Amaechi one-on-one, so it was an opportunity to have a picture with a man who championed the change Nigerians are currently enjoying.
It was also an opportunity to have a handshake with a man whom they believe is simple, humble and bold to speak the truth, a man whom they perceived to be good and relates with the people.
It was also an opportunity to exchange pleasantries with a man who was tortured by the past government due to his stand in speaking the truth at all times.
Some said they would boldly display on their face book and WatSap accounts the pictures they snapped with Amaechi. They referred to Amaechi as a hero of democracy.
When the occasion kick started with the introduction of dignitaries to the high table, the anchor had said, been the chief host, Amaechi would be the last to assume his seat on the high table as according to him “big masquerade dey appear last”.
But When Amaechi was finally told to assume his seat on the high table he realized that a Professor seated closed to him was not recognised on the high table, swiftly, Amaechi said to the MC ” If you don’t invite Prof. to the high table I will not go there”.
Amaechi’s statement triggered a thunderous applaud by the crowd on Amaechi himself.
The event was a memorable one and members of the group were excited at Amaechi’s presence and his show of humility to the University Professor.
In his speech, the National President of ACOMORAN Alhaji Shehu Maihula Babangida described Amaechi as a “great supporter of the downtrodden”.
Babangida said “Permit me to specially recognize the efforts and supports of the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, (CON), who has also been total in his support. Amaechi is a great supporter, the Minister is an icon of great repute to ACOMORAN in terms of his unflinching support and encouragement received from him either as a former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly or as a former Governor of Rivers State”.
“The Minister has played a vital role in the transportation sector. He has totally transformed the sector from rot and perpetual decay”.
Babangida also said his group has reduced drastically the rate of crime in the country by engaging the vulnerable youths who would have been involved in armed robbery and other social vices.
” Interestingly too, we have accomplished three cardinal things namely; massive reduction of unemployment in the country by engaging individuals who would have been jobless, we have also reduced the act of criminality in the country and we have contributed to the macroeconomic development of Nigeria”.
Amaechi’s decision to parley with ‘Okada’ men was his style of associating with the poor and down- trodden in the land. It is inherent in Amaechi to romance with the hopeless and build trust and hope in them.
Amaechi is indeed a “great supporter”, he is indeed, “the peoples minister”, and I dare to say that if there is any Nigerian minister both past and serving that can abandon the luxury of his office and stoop so low to mingling with the most dejected and neglected in the land, Amaechi is the answer.
For some members of the ACOMORAN whom I interacted with, Amaechi’s presence at their event has rekindled their hope in life. It has also shown that indeed change has come.The group also used the occasion to pray for Amaechi and quick recovery of President Muhamadu Buhari.
On his part, Amaechi hailed the union members and their leadership for their contribution to nation building. Amaechi explained that his Ministry recognises the role played by the transporters in the economy not only in terms of growing their own personal economy but growing a national economy.
“The ministry of transportation recognizes the role you play in the economy not only in terms of growing your personal economy but also growing a national economy because transportation is logistics. It is the movement of goods and services from one point to the other. Its absence can mean that the economy cannot grow, so you create that job, not only do you create that job you also create services in other to grow the economy”.
“You provide the easiest and quickest means of transportation. Tricycles and Motorcycles are used for Agricultural purposes. You convey goods from one place to another and people depend on you because you are cheaper than the rest means of transportation and so nobody should undermine you, nobody should take you for granted”, Amaechi explained.
But however, Amaechi also told the group the hard truth about public perception on them. He noted that while Nigerians recognise their importance they have become associated with lawlessness and recklessness.
“Majority of Nigerians recognise your importance, they recognise that you take them from one point to the other, the only problem is that people believe you are reckless. Before, the number of accident and the rate at which people were dying and losing their legs seem to be very high but now it has gone down. People think you are reckless, they think you are disobedient to road signs, there is impatient and you park any where you see”,he said.
- Okpara, an aide of the Minister of Transportation, sent this piece from Abuja.
