Adegboyega Oyetola, the governor of Osun State, on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, issued two weeks ultimatum to commercial motorcyclists in the state to register all bikes and members.
The Governor noted riders in the state must have their tags and reflective jackets with bold prints behind showing the different areas and units of operation” or risk suspension of their operations.
Oyetola through his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan disclosed that the governor held a meeting with the leadership of the Associations of Commercial Motorcycle Operators in the State and that the decision was part of efforts to firm up security in the State following the recent looting and vandalisation of government and private property as well as general disruption of peace across the State.
He said, ‘The duration of commercial motorcycle operators has also been limited. They will now operate from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm daily.
While addressing the representatives of the association, Oyetola said, “Security reports revealed that your members played major roles in the destabilisation and breakdown of law and order that necessitated the declaration of curfew in the State. Your members were the ones who ferried looters from house to house to perpetrate evil. They were the ones who were paid to transport hoodlums to destroy people’s businesses.
“I can also confirm to you that even the attempt on my life was aided by some of your members, who after we escaped from the mob, gave my convoy a long chase and attempted to block our movement at different points. We also have security reports that some of your members are involved in all forms of illicit activities like robbery, kidnapping, and ritual killings.
“Considering all these, the government cannot pretend that all is well because the primary duty of government is to ensure the security of life and property of its citizens. That is why we are mandating all the various associations of commercial motorcycle operators in the state to document their members, register their bikes, issue them tags, and reflective jackets with bold prints behind showing the different areas and units of operation.
“This exercise is expected to be concluded within two weeks from the time of this meeting. The time has come to separate the wheat from the chaff and as leaders of the associations, please ensure this is done. Otherwise, the government will have no option but to suspend okada operations in the State,” he said.
In their responses, the representatives of the various associations of the commercial motorcycle in the State took turns to apologise to the Governor for the role some of their members played in causing devastations across the state and promised to comply with the directives of the State Government.
Source: The Nation
