Northern leaders, especially the governors, have failed the Nigerian masses because they have failed to tackle the security situation of the region. The ban on motorbikes as commercial (okada) means of earning a livelihood by the masses is a wrong approach to tackling insecurity or insurgency in the North. This strategy could even make the insecurity worse as the operators of commercial motorcycles may have no option that to resort to criminal activities.
I am surprised that the governors do not consider the seasonal period of rain in the region before taking the decision to ban Okada. The governors should have adopted other means of checking the nefarious activities of unscrupulous elements such as the imposition of curfew, restriction, documentation, stickers, painting, registration, and so on, rather than the outright ban on commercial motorcycles, on which many of the masses depend to cater for their families.
It is inhuman for the police, soldiers, and other para-military personnel to harass the masses if they try to disregard the ban. They should instead use their power to safeguard the masses to be able to earn their daily living and contribute their quota to economic growth of the North and Nigeria as whole.
It is only in Nigeria that this nonsense can happen. The electorate that voted for you and you took an oath to defend them are now your target. It is not only commercial motorcycles that are being used to commit crime, cars and buses are also being used by criminals and insurgents. In virtually all the bombings that are happening now and then, there has been no reported case of commercial being used to bomb markets, motor parks, church, mosque or any other public place. Why are we not sincere? It is a plan by the enemies of the North. I think they have succeeded by the using the northern leaders, especially the governors who are the chief security officers of their states.
The worst thing is that you cannot even pick a child to school, if you have motorcycle. You cannot take anyone to the hospital or some other places with motorcycle. This is nonsense. I pity a leader that creates hardship for his followers because a day will come when you will stand before your Creator and give account of your leadership.
The Kaduna state government on May 20, this year banned commercial motorcycles. This is in spite of the fact that the state is liberal or centre for learning. Why is the state so strict on the ban? Even in Abuja and Suleja, which is the most populated local government area in Niger state, commercial motorcycles still operate.
This policy of banning commercial motorcycles will surely expose some of the state governments that refuse to construct or repair bad roads. Kaduna has started experiencing holdups or traffic jam on major roads. Because most of the people that park their cars and use bikes for business were forced to bring out their vehicles. The electorate are passing through hell now in Kaduna, while some people are regretting voting for this present administration, in the next six months or so the state economy would decline.
I heard that the governor placed a curse on anybody that picks somebody on a bike – “Allah Ya sa,” Hausa for God would punish him. If it is, may God forgive him, while he should ask for forgiveness too? A good father doesn’t curse his child because he disobeys him.
It is better for Governor Mukhtar Yero to revisit the issue and if possibly lift the ban so that Kaduna economy would not crumble completely. It will be on history that this is the worst government Kaduna state ever had. The governor knows that the state is the capital of northern Nigeria, which comprises the 19 states. Therefore, anything that affects Kaduna would impact on other northern states.
Since most of the roads are not motorable, how do you use tricycle? There are a lot of things that should be put in place before banning the Okada.
When the government promised tricycles, would these aid in internal revenue generation for the state? Before the ban we have over 150,000 commercial motorcycle operators in Kaduna that are self-employed.
The passengers, motorcycle mechanics and okada riders are expected to demonstrate or protest, but the people that feel the heat have taken the matter to court with the aid of human right activists. I expect the motorcycle riders to continue their work, pending the outcome of the judgement.
I hope the okada riders would win the case and government would find an alternative means of checking insecurity in the society than starve the masses from getting their daily bread.
Raji Saidu Onipson,
Mando, Kaduna
