Oyo State Chapter of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) has endorsed Governor Seyi Makinde’s candidature for second term in office.
Addressing journalists during a press conference in Ibadan on Monday, ACOMORAN Chairman, Comrade Solomon Olugbode urged over 200,000 members of the group across the state to troop out on Saturday and vote massively to ensure that the governor emerged victorious at the poll.
Comrade Olugbode said although ACOMORAN is not a partisan association, it is necessary that its members, as eligible electorate, participate in the political development of the country. He stressed that, being members of the society, they are always affected by government actions and policies, hence the need to participate in politics.
He added that as a law-abiding union, the group members see themselves as partners in progress to the government.
He also said the union decided to throw its weight behind Governor Makinde because it carefully observed the campaign trend of all governorship candidates and was disappointed as they engaged in abuse and name calling instead of rolling out their blueprints.
Olugbode said: “Coming to the issue of Covid -19 pandemic, in a bid to find solutions to it, many governments considered lockdown as a way out. On the threats of insecurity, blames were heaped on the weaker part of our society.
In this case, in Nigeria, some state governments blamed the operators of Commercial motorcycles and
tricycles (The Commercial Motorcyclist/Tricyclist Okada). In fact, in some states, motorcycle operations were banned outrightly, while motorcycles were seized and confiscated. Not less than 2000 motorcycles worth 450,000 each were confiscated and the riders whose only means of living was riding, were rendered jobless with threats of arrest from their dealers who bought the motorcycles for them on hire purchase. The period economic hardship threw up the best and worst of our leaders.
In some states, leaders became dictators and states were locked down without palliatives.
“Considering the challenges and
the way those elected leaders had handled the situation as if four years is forever, ACOMORAN Oyo State in our meeting considers the reactions of those we have entrusted with leadership position and concluded to have this press briefing. We are a body whose strength is in our united numerical strength.
“May I list the obvious fact that came out of the lockdown. One, the office of the Governor of Oyo State became envious to our neighbours because of the godly and humanitarian approach of our Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde to the issues concerning the citizens of the state.
“Everything was so managed in a way that, in spite of the global economic and health challenges, we in Oyo State experienced governance with human face. This reflected in many facets of life.
Let me cite some instances to buttress my assertion:
“In July 2019, an okada man had issue with security agents at Iwo road and he was shot. His excellency took responsibilities, paid all his hospital bills and paid sum of N25,000 monthly to the rider for six months till he recovered.
“Initially, the newly introduced revenue ticket was planned to be sold to okada riders at N200 per bike. Sensing how difficult it would be for our members, we, ACOMORAN, wrote to His Excellency that increment on the revenue ticket of okada would compound the woes of our members who only paid N200 for both revenue and the union ticket per day. We were able to meet His Excellency on the eve of the commencement of the ticket, 16th Feb, 2020. Immediately, the listening leader ordered status quo to remain to give ACOMORAN a sense of belonging.
“Despite pressure, criticism to lockdown Oyo during Covid-19, His
Excellency Engr. Seyi Makinde considered those of us who relied on daily income to make living and resulted to partial lockdown to reduce the effects on our economic life.
“The approach of His Excellency during the END SARS also worth to be applauded. When some state governments used the state instruments of force and intimidation on the protesters, our governor joined them. He addressed them to remain calm and peaceful in pursuing their demands. He promised them that government would look into their requests and do the needful. With him in their midst, trigger-happy policemen or soldiers could not engage in unmerited shootings.
“When some state governors closed their eyes to the good side of Okada riders and some elites mounted pressure on the Seyi Makinde-led administration to follow the path, to reduce influx of okada riders into the state, the man of the people and law abiding governor maintained that anyone who comes into Oyo State with the aim of making lawful business will not be restricted since it is enshrined in the 1999 constitution that a Nigerian can live and work in any part of Nigeria.
“Today, Oyo State is one of the most peaceful states to live in because there is an enabling environment. The effect of prompt payment of Salary is making life meaningful not only to the Civil Servants but all the citizens of Oyo State. Even though some argued, this should not be recorded as achievement but we all know what Oyo State looked like when salaries were delayed or denied.
“Building of modern terminus/motor parks and Okada/tricycle parks is also commendable. This also has been condemned by some because they travelled in their private cars and will not consider comfort of the masses whose only means of movement is public transportation.
“Thank you GSM, we need more okada/tricycle parks. The effect of this synergy between Oyo State government and ACOMORAN is reduction in jungle justice in the state.”