In Awka, Anambra State’s capital, and Onitsha, its business hub, commercial motorcycle operators have until July 1 to find an alternative job. NWANOSIKE ONU reports that the operators, clergy and others are fighting the state government
COMPARATIVELY, the July 1st deadline given by the Anambra State government for commercial motorcyclists to quit Awka, the state capital, and Onitsha, its commercial nerve, is coming late. In Lagos and some other states in the Southeast and Southeast , that directive was issued earlier, though operational in areas off the highways, in some cases.
The overwhelming reasons for the ban on commercial motorcycles or okada are crime and safety concerns. Everywhere okada goes, criminality and ghastly accidents follow. In Lagos, okada accidents became so frequent and deadly that a special ward called okada was created at the famous Igbobi orthopaedic hospital.
Still, no one can deny that okada operators took up the job not out of fascination for it but out of sheer necessity to survive in the face of crippling unemployment. Nor can anyone gloss over the fact that operators play a huge role in transporting people to places where buses and taxis are not found, and appreciably fast.
In Anambra, the directive has become a source of worry to many people. Governor Willie Obiano had on May 22 banned okada operations in the two cities, which according to him, could be extended to other cities in the state in no distant time.
The action has continued to generate controversy in the state. The National President of Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria (MTUN) Chief John Onedibe has called on the governor to give okada operators a sense of belonging in the state.
Not only the operators that are irritated by the directive. The Anglican Bishop of Nnewi-ichi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state, Most Rev Ephraim Ikeakor said the ban might be costly and deadly, if the decision is not rescinded.
Ikeakor, who spoke at the Saint Stephens Anglican synod in Nnewi-ichi, said rather than outright ban, their operational scope should be limited.
The state government’s statement was issued by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Mr James Eze.
He said the ban was in two of the major cities of Awka an Onitsha.
Obiano further said the decision was taken to reduce crime and criminality in Anambra State, which he said was one of the things he promised Ndi Anambra
But speaking in Nnewi, the national president of the union, Onedibe, while briefing reporters, debunked the claim that the operators were all criminals, but agreed there were some of them who were not clean in the business.
Onedibe said, “It is not new that the essence of government is to make life easy and bearable for citizens and not otherwise. Government especially a democratic one such as ours, must consider the voice of majority and minority, the rich and poor for it to thrive and succeed in its governance of the people.
“Where government considers what is good for the wealthy alone without thinking of how the poor class may feel, with due respect, it then means that the government is for the wealthy alone and such does not protect and represent the interest of all.
“How can the government decide to ban Okada without first of all consulting the stakeholders or at least invite public opinion on the matter?”
He gave the instance of how Prof Ben Ayade of Cross River State, who abolished all forms of taxation and levies on low income earners in the state, including Okada riders, which he said was what leadership should be.
He stressed that the real reason behind the presumed banning of Okada in the state was still not clear to the people, especially the poor Okada riders.
”Even if there are genuine reasons to stop Okada riders from plying in the state, government should provide alternative jobs for them, instead of keeping them unemployed.
Onedibe appealed to the government to support the operation of Okada riders in the state, instead of banning their operations, because many of them trained their children and were still training their children who he said would become medical doctors, engineers, nurses, lawyers, bankers, pilots, politicians, priests and what have you, from the proceeds of Okada.
He said “There is no better and quicker means of inter-town transportation than Okada, whether the road is good or not is not what an Okada wants to know, as far as he would be paid after rendering his service unlike taxi cabs.
Onedibe opined that the Union was ready to work with government at all levels to produce better and progressive state.
“We contributed immensely to the success of this present government in Anambra State, during the past election, which resulted in APGA winning 21/21, a feat that has never happened in the history of Anambra State,” he said
For the Anglican prelate, Ikeakor, the state government should listen to the voice of reason, instead of taking the action it did recently, adding that the consequences could be devastating in the state.
