‘Okada’ Riders Protest Ban Of Commercial Motorcycles In Edo

A recent ban on the activities of commercial motorcycle riders,
popularly called Okada,in Edo State the state government, Wednesday
provoked a protest in Benin City.
The State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had in a state-wide
broadcast on television stations in the state Tuesday, announced the
ban of the use of okada as a means of transportation in thethree local
government areas of Benin metropolis, citing security reasons.
The protesters who turned outin large numbers, elicited the sympathy
of people as youths and others joined them in the protest at Ring
Road.
Human and vehicular traffic was disrupted by the protest, as all
entrance to the ever busy Ring Road were barricaded with every
available objects.
Workers and other commuters who had planned to beat the early hour
rush were, however,disappointed as they could not overcome the heavy
traffic jam caused by the protest.
A team of security operatives comprising soldiers and anti-riot
policemen later dispersed the protesters.
One of the protesters, Emmanuel Okobia, who spoketo P.M.NEWS at Ring
Road, said the government erred in the ban of their activities without
serving them notice early enough.
"Oshiomhole got this one wrong this time. How can he announce a ban on
Okada after just one week notice? We are all family men and bread
winners, where does he want us to get our daily breadfrom?
"Criminal activities in the state have gone down considerably. There
is no morekidnapping and armed robbery, so his argument that it is
because of armed robberyand kidnapping does not work," Okobia said.
The protesters further lamented losses they were made to incur, saying
that justtwo months ago, they were forced to pay the sum of N2000 each
for jackets that were never given to them.
"Just two months ago, they forced us to pay N2000 for a jacket which
they claimed willidentify real riders from hoodlums, which they did
not even give us. At the end of the day, it was stickers that they
gave to us. So who is deceiving who now? Oshiomhole should think
twice."
Soldiers and anti riot policemen were deployed everywhere around the
metropolis to ensure the protests remained under control.
The Okada riders, however, vowed to take their protest to the
Government House to see Governor Oshiomole.