Scores of commercial motorcycle riders (okada riders) on Thursday protested in Abeokuta, Ogun State, against alleged interference in their affairs by the state House of Assembly.
The okada riders, operating under the Articulated Motorcycle and Riders Association of Nigeria, said the Assembly dissolved the current state executive of the association and replaced them with a caretaker committee, retaining only the state secretary, Adedayo Eleku.
The riders, who gathered at their Adatan car wash association’s office, displayed placards with different inscriptions, some of which read, ‘Don’t dissolve our state executive’, and ‘Don’t spoil the good work of our governor.’
Eleku, said the members disagreed with the action of the assembly.
He stated that they preferred the current executive to continue in office, saying there were some strange names among the caretaker committee members.
He said, “Our members are holding this peaceful protest to register our displeasure with the state House of Assembly for dissolving the state executive of AMORAN.
“They said they wanted the dissolved executive to continue in office. What we want is for the Assembly to allow us to conduct our own election and elect our officers.”
However, the Chairman, House Committee on Transportation, Mr. Isreal Jolaosho, said the state executive of AMORAN remained dissolved.
He said the assembly took the action following a letter brought before the House by the union’s Board of Trustee.
He said AMORAN executive had been in office since August 2011, adding that the law that established the union only stipulated a three-year tenure.
Jolaosho said the House of Assembly had the power to investigate and regulate the activities of the union because it was the House that passed a resolution which established it.
He said, “When you were sworn in, you promised to maintain law and order, if any of you do something contrary, you shall be dealt with accordingly.
“All the property of the union should be handed over to the caretaker committee immediately.
“Tickets from the Ogun Internal Revenue Service should no longer be given to the dissolved members, but should henceforth be given to the caretaker committee.”
The deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, who is a member of the board of trustee of the union also said the executive had completed their tenure.
He said, “It is the caretaker committee that will conduct election for the new state executive to emerge. That is what the constitution of the union says.”
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