Anambra Keke Napep Union kicks over forced tickets , begs Obiano
From Odogwublog’s l-Reporter; I was driving home yesterday when I ran into hundreds of Keke Napep drivers at Amawbia.
I wouldn’t know what brought about that but I inquired. I was told that the Keke Napep drivers were being forced to pay N450 daily ticket even when Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state had cancelled it.
Still unverified by me but let me serve you what the drivers said to me:
“Are you aware that the Keke drivers are still being exploited by their so called union leaders in spite of Anambra State Government announcement to stop tickets sales to keke and bus drivers, etc as a palliative measures to cussion the effect of the sit-at-home.
“Yesterday, that’s Wednesday, the Keke Union leaders and their numerous staff defied Government order as they stormed many Keke loading locations in Awka and forcefully sold tickets to drivers.
” This is because the Keke driver were afraid of being beaten up, they had to buy the tickets.
” The Union is forcing the Keke drivers to buy substandard hand sanitizers from the Union office at the cost of N1,200. Is this not exploitation of the highest order? Is it supposed to be?
“This development is grossly unfair, inhuman, extortive, wired and sabotaging to State Government directives geared towards alleviating the pains of the people. Most of the affected are afraid to report this happenings for the fear of being beaten, attacked or face untimely death.
” Keke drivers in Awka are being exploited by their leaders, but they are afraid to voice out their ordeal.
“Please take this message to the appropriate quarters for SOS intervention from these Shylock leaders that are bent on milking the Keke drivers dry.
“Remember Government ordered to suspend sales of tickets and levies on keke/tricycles drivers for April and May or so.
“The aggrieved tricycle drivers pressured Governor Obiano to reduce the amount that is collected in each Keke loading points in Awka South and to close some illegal toll collection centres springing up in Awka town.
The Keke Union today, Tuesday 7th April, 2020, dispatched her taskforce members for the second day, to various Keke loading locations and major roads in Awka South LGA to force Keke drivers purchase the daily Union and IGR tickets of N450, even as the State Government had suspended those tickets for two months.
Investigation reveals that the Keke Union/taskforce made some of them to suspend work until 6pm when taskforce should have closed work officially.
The most painful aspect of today’s operation, as recounted by a Keke driver, was that the Keke Union/taskforce stormed loading locations to harass drivers who did not buy tickets during the day. One driver claimed that at 7pm today some taskforce members came to Ukwu-orji bustop, along Zik’s Avenue major road, harassing Keke drivers that did not buy N450 tickets today.
When we made contact with some persons commissioned by the Keke Union to sell tickets, it was discovered the they were afraid to sell tickets openly for fear of being arrested by police.
They also informed us that they were careful not to keep the tickets with them. Another ticket seller claimed that they were forced by the Union to sell the tickets and since they do not want to loose their job they had to take the risk.
The Keke drivers are calling on His Excellency, Akpokudike Aguleri, Chief Willie Obiano to intervene in this matter as it is only him that can solve this problems.
On the wake of Covid 19 invasion of nations and in the bid to stop the spread, the Government of Anambra State gave some directives on the way forward, including suspension of sales of tickets to tricycle (Keke) drivers.
What do you think?
