By Okechukwu Okechukwu
About one hundred tricycle operators in Anambra State, Wednesday, staged a peaceful protest over alleged extortion, harassment and incessant killings of their members in the state.
The protesters blocked the road leading to the Anambra state House of Assembly and the judiciary complex through the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, the state capital, beared placards with different inscriptions.
Speaking during the protest, the coordinator, Awka North and South Keke Drivers Welfare forum, Comrade Osita Obi, lamented that the tricycle operators were being extorted daily by government empowered revenue collectors.
According to Obi, they were being forced to pay over a thousand Naira every day, for end of year party fee of N4,500, ID card renewal of N3,500, State Management Code of N8,000, membership registration levy of N50,000, among others.
He said, "A lot of people have been killed in this town because of who gets what from Keke revenue. We don't want it again. The keke drivers are tired of leadership imposition and want to be allowed to operate independently. That many of them can't afford living in good houses, sending their children to good schools and wearing good clothes doesn't mean they are not making money.
"But cultists engaged by some government officials as revenue collectors are milking them dry. We want to state clearly that if anything should happen to any of these drivers or to the speaker, people should hold the government of Anambra state responsible. We expect government to intervene.
"The Keke drivers are willing to pay legitimate government revenues, but obnoxious revenues will no longer be tolerated. I have met Transport Commissioner several times on these issues, but he feigned ignorance, but I'm sure he is aware. I'm not doing this to run any government official down, but to restore sanity in the system. Enough of this exploitation and harassment.
"I'm using this opportunity to thank the police and the DSS for providing us security during this protest . We also congratulate the Governor-elect, Prof. Soludo because we believe that as a man with an independent mind he will not tolerate all these nonsensee in the state ".
Also speaking, one of the protesters, Mr Emeka Eze identified inability of government to allow them conduct election to replace the existing tricycle operators leadership, as the reason behind the crisis and killing in the union.
Eze, who urged the government to support them to have a new leadership, explained that it would help to restore sanity, peace and unity in the union devoid of killings.
But responding in a public service announcement, the permanent secretary, Anambra State ministry of transport, Dr. Emman Ude- Ukpeh, Wednesday, urged tricycle operators to report anyone or group trying to extort them to the ministry for appropriate sanction.
"The attention of the Ministry of Transport has been drawn to increasing cases of alleged attempt by some persons claiming to be officials of Tricycle (keke) Union in the State to compel tricycle riders to pay certain levy for End of Year Party/Get-together.
"The Ministry wishes to state that while members of recognised/registered transport unions in the state have the right to meet and agree on the conduct of such social activities/events, members who elect not to participate in such must never be compelled to participate or pay any levy to that effect by anyone whether Union official or not.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Transport shall deal decisively with any tricycle union official, representative(s) or agent(s) found to be compelling tricycle riders who chose not to participate in the ''End of Year party" by impounding their tricycles or manhandling the riders.
"The Ministry therefore requests any rider being compelled to pay any levy for End of Year Party/Get-together to immediately report via sms, whatsapp message or even video to the Ministry's Traffic Command and Control Centre (TCCC) on 09065820149 for immediate response and arrest of the culprits"