By Ibebe Rufus
LAGOS JANUARY 7TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Commercial activities in the every busy town of Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area, of Delta State was grounded as Hundreds of
Commercial Motorcyclist popularly called “Okada” took to the streets today (6th January, 2016) to protest over the high cost of selling ticket to them.
The protest wish started as early as 7:00am from Egor Roundabout to Post Office Roundabout with chanting of war songs, display of Placards with various inscriptions as well as beating of keke drivers and fellow Okadamen who violated the law by carrying passengers prevented
many people from resuming early in their various working place.
The protesting Okada men refused to carry anybody insisting that, it was either the sale of tickets to them be reduced or cancelled totally. They were of the opinion that, until the ticket which is now sold for one hundred and fifty naira (N 150.00) is reduce to the former seventy naira (N70.00) or abolished, there would be a continuous protest by them.
Thousand of persons were seen moving form one place to another on foot as the protesting Okada men hijacked and beat up any keke drivers seen carrying passengers. Their claim was that, it was they (keke drivers) that is partly responsible for the increment because they think
increasing the cost of ticket will prevent many Okada men from operating thereby, creating room for them to make Ughelli a Keke town.
While chatting with some of the protesting Okada men, it was obvious that the Okada men were angry and may continue the protest if something urgently is not done. One Okada man who simply identifies himself as John said it is better to protest and get a better result than work because the Okada business is becoming unbearable.
His words, “I prefer to continue this protest for even twenty days until they (government) cancel this ticket or bring the cost down than to work because I don’t even see the money at the end of the day after working. Come to think of it, I will buy fuel for over one hundred and twenty naira, then buy ticket for one hundred and fifty naira after that I will then settle the own of the motorcycle. How much do you think will be left? So I prefer this protest”.
Another Okada man who said his name is Obakporo Thomas said the government is very wicked to have increased the cost of ticket in the first place. He said he is fully ready to protest and die should the need be because the government hate them and they are here to prove that they are the engine room of the town in terms of transportation.
He stated further and I quote, “You see how people are trekking long distance because we refuse to carry them. Today, a lot of teachers and students went late to school so also were traders and buyers to the market. The economy of Ughelli will not be good today. We are the ones that carry people around the town and until this wicked government brings down the cost of ticket, Ughelli will remain like this”.
As at the time of filing this report, a lot of security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Army and Ughelli Vigilante Group have been deployed to the scenes of the protest to avoid breakdown of laws and orders.
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