Oyo State Chapter of the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) through its chairman,Comrade Solomon Olugbode, has called on the state government to regulate the numbers of unions piloting the affairs okada riders in the state so as to nip crime in the bud across the state.
This follows the ban on okada riding in Lagos State, which many people say will lead to influx of okada rider to Oyo State especially as the south west region continues to tackle the menace of insecurity and terrorism.
Comrade Olugbode also called on security agencies to curb the activities of some faceless group who are planning Okada Day under the disguise of ACOMORAN. He said Oyo State ACOMORAN and its distance themselves from the group and urged all security agencies to do needful before they wreck havoc in the state.
He said the body does not have the constitutional powers or right to stop any Nigerian from engaging in commercial motorcycle popularly known as ‘okada’ business and therefore, appealed for more support from the state government and security agencies.
The Association stated that the decision by anyone to engage in commercial motorcycle was born out of the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria orchestrated by bad political leadership and could therefore, not arrogate to itself powers outside the provisions of the constitution, noting that such action if taken, could amount to breach of the law.
Speaking with journalists in Ibadan on Monday June 13 at its Total Garden State Secretariat Office of ACOMORAN, over the implication of the ban on Okada operations in Lagos state, the Oyo state Chairman of the Association, Comrade Olugbode Solomon said the body has directed all of its members in the state to immediately report any suspicious activity or element masquerading as a registered rider at any of the garages and parks to appropriate authorities.
This according to Comrade Olugbode is in line with the state government’s commitment and resolve to tighten up security across the state following the recent ban on okada operation in Lagos and the consequent expectation of possible influx of okada riders into Oyo state.
Speaking on some of the challenges faced by the Association in Oyo state towards effective sanitization of members operation, Comrade Olugbode alluded to the fact that multiple unions trying to outdo one another has been a major clog in the wheel of its progress. He appealed to the state government and security agencies particularly the state Police Command to help the Association achieve the task before it.
While expressing the Association’s appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde for his magnanimity not to act under pressure to place a ban on its members operation in Oyo state, Comrade Olugbode stressed that many okada riders are university graduates and other professionals in various fields who are engaged in Okada riding as a sole means of survival before there is a better opportunity.
He added that riding Okada was also a means of helping government at all levels in Nigeria to curb crime and youth restiveness since people engaged in the business must survive without engaging in criminal activities. He therefore, urged Makinde to streamline the number of unions trying to outdo one another in the business for proper and effective regulation.
“Since the inception of this administration, we have faced a lot of challenges which could have make life unbearable for some of us who depend on daily income to make living but the wisdom and humanitarian approach of His Excellency has saved us from hardship, especially during the outbreak of global pandemic, COVID-19 and the Endsars protest. On behalf of the 50,000 members of ACOMORAN in Oyo State, we say a big thank you to our governor and his entire cabinet members for readiness to take responsibility for the safety and welfare of all.
“The latest was the recent ban on motorcycles in some major parts of Lagos State and the likely influx of those riders into Oyo State. I want the public, especially the elite to understand that we are products of society, we are not useless, worthless or empty headed. Society needs to understand that committing an atrocity depends on the person and not the profession, a bad person is a bad person irrespective of their occupation, gender, ethnicity or religion.
“The law does not restrict anyone from moving from one place to another for a reason of making a living and anyone or group who act in violation of the law is regarded as a criminal.
“The Association is fully on ground and our members have been sensitized to report any strange and suspicious movement to the appropriate quarters. As law abiding people, we have also prepared our members for the data collection of all riders for easy identification.
“As a means of permanent solution to the unruly behavior of some riders in the state, we appeal to the government to regulate the number of unions controlling riders and give autonomy of existence to the riders because the violence in commercial motorcycles and tricycle started in 2006 when the motorist union violently hijacked okada park,” Comrade Olugbode said.
The ACOMORAN chairmen also used the occasion to call on the Director of Department of State Security Service and Commissioner of Police in Oyo State to be vigilant as regards the proposition of organizing Okada Day by some members of the Association tagged as “aggrieved” stressing that the body is not party to anything of such.
“We therefore, call on the Director of the Department of State Security Service and Commissioner of Police that anyone or group involved in this is an imposter and should be held responsible for the misdeed. Detailed information will be submitted in writing to the office of the security agencies.”
The ACOMORAN Chairman called on all the members across Oyo State to ride carefully and behave well in the society in order to help government identify and separate criminals from law-abiding citizens who are struggling to make ends meet.