Anambra Tricycle operators decry forceful payment of outlawed levies

Ask members to resist paying money to touts

Tricycle operators in Anambra State have been told to resist touts who still flout Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s order to force them to pay revenue.

The chairman of Keke Drivers Welfare Association, Anambra State chapter, Chief Arusi Igbanuka, stated this yesterday when he led Keke drivers in a thank you road show in Onitsha.
The drivers who took off from Holiday Resort went through Obodo-Ukwu Road – Ede Road all in Okpoko through Owerri Road- Upper Iweka -Iweka Road-Bida Road to Fegge.
They also distributed handbills to fellow Keke drivers to enlighten drivers to resist those touts who still extort money from them.

Some of the messages in the handbills read “: No Keke drivers should pay a penny on the road until Government decides what we are going to pay. We, Keke operators are grateful to Governor Soludo who has brought sanity to Keke operation in the state” among others .
The road show according to Igbanuka stemmed from the fact that inspite of the ban on touting in the state touts were still collecting money from their drivers.

He lamented however that those who still succumbed to these touts don’t understand that their freedom has been granted.
Chief Igbanuka said they don’t know how to express their appreciation to this God sent leader, Prof Soludo, who declared last week in Okpoko that he does not want touts and touting in any part of the State.
“Our prayer is for his prosperity and success of his administration. Soludo is the Governor. Nobody should flout his order. There is no two Governors in Anambra State. Anybody going about collecting revenue that has been suspended is challenging the constituted authority of Anambra State led by Prof. Soludo” he said.

The chairman said the Governor said clearly and they heard him well too that they should not pay to anybody until Government determines what we will pay, saying that when they come out with that, Keke drivers will be paying directly to Government dedicated account.

Unfortunately, said Igbanuka these touts have been flouting the order, saying that in different parts of Onitsha and environs and other parts of the State , these hoodlums have been extorting money from Keke drivers

He said the UCKEMORAN will work with security agencies to ensure total compliance to Governor’s directive as well as flush out criminals who disguise as Keke drivers.
Chief Igbanukai equally assured that Keke drivers would be responsible, disciplined , abstain from any form of drug abuse and criminality.

Some of the drivers who spoke to newsmen said that these touts operating in different pits have been collecting three hundred naira (N300 ) per Keke everyday since the Governor gave the directive.
But some Anambrrarians have suggested that these touts cannot let go until the Governor direct the security operatives to arrest and arraign them in court which will give order for such persons to be dumped in Correctional Centres.

In the alternative, the security operatives should be given order to shoot at sight any person still flouting the order after sufficient notice has been issued.