GOV. UDUAGHAN SHOULD PROVIDE JOBS BEFORE BANNING COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLES- Barr Obuh

GOV.
UDUAGHAN SHOULD PROVIDE JOBS BEFORE BANNING COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLES-
Barr Obuh
By
Nelly Michael &
Ogor
Miracle
There
have been a serious reaction since Delta State Government under the
leadership of Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan announced that commercial
motorcycle operators popularly known as okada will be banned come 30
of September, 2012 and introduced in its place tricycle popularly
known as keke.
“The
introduction of tricycle and the ban of motorcycle no doubt is
laudable and should be encouraged by all if the Delta State
government should answer without delay the question of how will
thousands of commercial motorcyclist (okada) operators do, or can
Tricycle (keke) be able to engage over three thousand motorcyclists
who include university graduates and master degree holders?”
The
above question was asked by Barr. Ben Obuh, during an interview wit h
Ika Weekly correspondent, at his office at No. 31 Memeh Street,
Boji-Boji, Owanta, on 26th September, 2012.
According
to him, “it is obvious that the operators of commercial motorcycle
see it as their last resort because the government has failed them,
some of them instead of taking to crime decided to engage themselves
in that industry to make ends meet. Instead of waiting for the
government which has bluntly refused to respond to the plight of
the unemployed people. The argument advanced by the Delta State
government that criminals are operating with commercial motorcycle
should be jettisoned because a criminal is a criminal irrespective of
where he or she is, we still have criminals in the executive,
legislative and judicial arms of Delta State government.
He
noted that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, though has failed Nigerians
nearly in all sectors of the economy but recently he stated in clear
terms that there are criminals in the National Assembly. Hardly had
Obasanjo made this allegation when Faruk Lawal of the House of
Representatives was indicted to this end, Delta State argument over
okada should be jettisoned in its entirely because we have criminals
everywhere,” he stated.
He
continued that the ban on commercial motorcycles and introduction of
tricycle is good and should be encouraged, but that there should be
alternative because tricycle cannot engage all the commercial
motorcycle operators. “Emmanuel Uduaghan led government should
create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths. An important question
which comes to mind is which road will tricycle operate In Agbor and
Owanta respectively? is it streets like Ehiabor, Obiazikwor,
Ojekpolor, Efeizomor, Alika, Abude, Charles or Abraka/Owanta Roads
that are now in a deplorable condition, or is it the Old Lagos/Asaba
road that are going to ply through.
Barr.
Obuh asserted that the only time the policies of government can be
implemented and followed to the latter is when the government plays
its part by showing good examples, create alternatives before the
implementation of the ban.

“Delta State government under Governor Uduaghan should build
industries, provide infrastructures and revitalize the Asaba Textile
Mill, so that the teeming unemployed youths who are operating
commercial motorcycles (okada) can be engaged. Government should
assume its responsibility and make Delta State a better place,” he
said.