Ayodele Olalere
Hundreds of commercial motorcyclists known as Okada riders, on Monday, stormed the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, the Lagos State capital, to protest the fresh ban on their operation by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
They demanded that the governor rethink the fresh ban he placed on their activities in four additional local governments and six local council development areas.
The governor had announced that the fresh ban would commence on September 1, 2022.
READ ALSO: http://Ikole High Chiefs frown at Ekiti dep. gov. unruly behaviour, demand apology
In May this year, the state government had banned Okada in six LGs and nine LCDAs, making a total of 10LGs and 15LCDAs covered by the ban.
The protesters said the decision of the government to ban okada in the affected areas could lead to total ban in the entire state by December, adding that banning their operation at this time was a wrong decision considering the poor state of the nation’s economy.
They expressed fear it could lead to Increase in crime rate due to job loss.
Comrade Adeleke Adegboyega aka Big Boss, who is Zone S Chairman in charge of Kosofe, said they came to plead with Governor Sanwo-Olu to reconsider the ban on okada, because the present situation in the country did not support the decision.
Adegboyega said that with the latest ban, more than 20,000 okada riders would be affected, noting that on the average, an operator had a minimum of 10 family members he had to cater for, wondering what would become of such a person’s fate thereafter.
“We are pleading with the government to have a rethink on the ban, those who are doing legitimate business would not commit crimes, we are not criminals.
“Government should not allow people to go into crime. If you ask that they (okada riders) should stop doing their business, people would go into crime.
“Crimes are not committed alone with okada. Look at the issue of train attacks in Kaduna, they were not committed by those who are legitimately engaged in okada business.
“I beg the government to see what they can do. On our part, we are doing our best possible to sanitize our members. The situation is not good now to impose a ban on okada business in the state,” he pleaded.
Comrade Azeez Ayorinde, Chairman, Zone H, also called on Governor Sanwo-Olu to come to their rescue, noting that banning okada business in the state would have a ripple effect.
According to him, it is not only the riders that will be affected, saying those who deal in spare parts, the mechanics, the food sellers, among others would also suffer for lack of patronages, adding:
“There is no employment anywhere now. Those who are into okada business, they went into it because there is no other business for them,” he said.
Another leader, Comrade Abiodun Ibrahim, who is chairman, Zone N, covering Mile 2 to Ibeju- Lekki, said given the systematic approach adopted by the state government on the ban issue, there could be total ban across all the nooks and crannies of Lagos by December this year.
According to him, this could lead to idle hands, saying it was for this reason that the state government should come to their rescue.
“We are protesting in a peaceful manner. We have graduates among us here. If any child is abandoned, what would happen? Okada is not the only thing that is being used to commit crimes,” he said.
