Business and commercial activities were paralyzed yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, over a protest by some aggrieved commercial motorcyclists, otherwise known as ‘okada operators’.
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Business and commercial activities were paralyzed yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, over a protest by some aggrieved commercial motorcyclists, otherwise known as ‘okada operators’.
They were reacting to an increase in their ticket fares as well as government highhandedness about their work, describing it as further attempt to impoverish the downtrodden.
Under the auspicious of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), the okada operators blocked major roads, especially the popular Oja Oba market, obstructing the free-flow of traffic.
Some of them who spoke at the scene of the protest said their union members had increased the early morning ticket fares without prior notice, describing the act as having political undertones.
“We are protesting because our executive members have failed us. They increased our ticket without consulting us. Before, they use to give us ticket after paying N50 but now they have increased it to N100. That is too much for us and we will not take that from them”.
They also alleged that the union members were working with the government to frustrate commercial motorcyclists, but warned that this could cause anarchy in the state.
“Our union members are now government instrument. They have forgotten the dark days when they promised to work for our interest. It’s high time we pass vote of no confidence in them,” they said.
During several hours of the action on main roads in the city, some okada riders refused to accept passengers. Others doubled their fare, leaving many passengers groaning.
At the secretariat of ACOMORAN on Isikan Road, some executive members of the union were seen discussing the issue but refused to speak over the matter.
A source within the union who requested anonymity debunked the allegations. “We have not settled down to discuss over any issue of increasing our ticket fare. I can authoritatively tell you that nothing of such is existing here”
Calls to the chairman of ACOMORAN in the state, comrade Jimoh Oba Bi-Olorun Kosi, were unsuccessful, and text messages sent to his mobile phone were not answered by the time of this report.
Sources in the government revealed that the state government has summoned the executive members to explain what transpired in Akure yesterday.
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