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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Tricycle operators in Aba, Abia State have made passionate appeal to Governor Alex Otti to reconsider his decision to restrict them from plying in the city between the hours of 7:00 pm to 6:00 am with effect from August 1.
The operators under the aegis of Real Keke Operators Association, Aba (REKOAA) with Chimezie Nwokejiobi as Chairman, pleaded that criminal activities involving some riders which was the reason for the proposed restriction, can easily be handled if their union is allowed to synergize with security agencies properly.
Nwokejiobi said should Government carry out its plan, it would add more hardship to their members and commuters, stressing that Aba as a commercial city cannot afford to go to sleep by 7:00 pm.
REKOAA hailed the governor for his infrastructural strides in Aba, and commended him for his people’s oriented governance, but pleaded with him to reconsider the restriction order which they said was tantamount to using the sins of a few guilty to punish the majority that are innocent.
“We know the Governor means well for us. We know he means well for Abia, we are aware that within a space of one year, he has done what his predecessors couldn’t do for the past 16 years. So we have to assist him to achieve all the good plans he has for the state, especially on security.
“We the tricycle operators in Aba are here today to tell the Government and the good people of Abia State that we are not criminals and are not in support of all the criminal activities being perpetrated by those underage criminal elements using tricycle to perpetrate crimes in the city of Aba.
The group added that apart from the hardship it will cause for their members, the restriction order if it comes into force, will thwart the plan Government has to restore nightlife in Aba.
REKOAA said with a functional tricycle operators union in Aba, criminals using keke to perpetrate criminal activities in the city, would be checkmated.
