Lagos State government should stop toying with the means of survival of the common people.
The governor should be reminded of how we fought "their oga " in Lagos when he introduced 7pm closing time for Okada when he was the governor. No reason could be adduced for the failure of government to provide jobs for the citizenry which brought about the use of motorcycles and or three wheelers as a last resort to eke a living.
There is no law that justifies infringement on the freedom of movement. Amendment to 1999 constitution that allows any law reasonably made in a democracy can not give credence to this insensitivity of Lagos State Government.
Depriving people of their means of survival without the provision of alternative jobs is the highest level of insensitivity by any government.
The government should be prepared for a serious fight against the unlawful pronouncement.
Consultation with the state attorney general and commissioner for justice is advised. Its certain we shall meet at the law court to prove the illegality of the anti people order.
All legitimate means ,including protests shall be employed to fight for the okada riders and three wheelers operators. They are part of the toiling masses and under no circumstances shall we abandon them for the oppressors.
Democratic Commercial Motorcyclists Association of Nigeria DECOMAN, an affiliate of Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights CCHR, will leave no stone unturned to make the state reverse the unlawful pronouncement.
Its ridiculous that a government which can not provide jobs for the people is bent on taken away the means of livelihood of the people.
No doubt ,some criminals use okada and tricycles to commit crime but the truth of the matter is that those using motorcycles and tricycles for crimes are criminals and not the toiling people using "okada and keke" as they are popular called for legitimate means of living.
Criminals make use of any means of transportation to carry out their nefarious activities. They use cars,small buses as well big buses too.They make use of their legs too.
I would have expected the government to ban mini buses ,LT buses etc within those Local Government areas and their so called LCDAs if there is anything like that recognised by the 1999 CFRN.
Is the commissioner and the state government not aware some criminals ( Not commercial vehicle drivers doing their legitimate duty) use buses for one chance in every part of Lagos State? Why is the state government not banning commercial buses in those areas?
The ban of commercial motorcyclists tricycle operators in the local government areas is totally unacceptable.
Its a gross violation of the fundamental rights of those concerned and a discrimination against the people of those affected areas. The Constitution is very clear ,express and unambiguous when it declares no Nigerian shall be discriminated against.
Why is the ban not in entire Lagos State but certain parts of the state? Does it mean the crimes and accidents given as reasons for the ban are peculiar to those Local government areas alone ?
Why should the government shift its failure and lack of ability to govern the state appropriately in line with Section 14(2) (b )of 1999 Constitution on the people whose reason for resorting to okada was as a result of planlessness of successive governments in Nigeria?
Section 4 of the Police Act states ;" the Police shall be employed for investigation of crimes and apprehension of offenders".
If there is infiltration of criminals within the okada and keke riders,why can't the state employ the police to fish out the criminals among them?Truly, accidents do occur and some may be caused by reckless riders but reckless and bad drivers do cause accidents too.
Why are the LASTMA officials on our roads? Are they not meant to watch over drivers and those riding whatever on our roads,be it okada,bicycle or tricycle and sanction erring ones ?
It must also be stressed that 95% of okada and three wheeler riders bought them on hire purchase and have to pay.
How and where will they get money to pay? Is the government ready to pay for all of them?
The ruling Party in Lagos State made use of these okada and keke riders to get to power.
Helmets were even distributed to lure the gullible ones to vote for their party at all levels.
Recently,the state government was said to have signed an agreement with Gokada as a source of revenue for the gvernment.
Why is it now that the ruling party is just waking up to raise the menace of the riders ?
I have said at many fora,that even as an advocate for the okada riders , I will support any government that is serious about giving okada riders alternative jobs in order to ban commercial usage of okada and three wheelers outrightly.
The state government should have a rethink not to put lives of several children in jeopardy. Parents of several children rely on Okada or Keke three wheelers to feed and cloth them.
The State Commissioner for health should tell the governor what happens if children
are not properly fed. God forbid, can the state government hospitals (said to be free yet people pay for ordinary consultation cards and everything
including drugs ) cope if children start falling sick due to malnutrition ?
If the government fails to listen to wise counsel and go ahead to enforce the ban, it should be prepared to contend with us at CCHR .
We are determined to "fight" the government legally for this provocative and unlawful ban of people's legitimate means of survival.
I hereby call on Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, Trade Union Congress TUC, United Action for Democracy UAD, Committee for Workers Rights CWR , Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria FIWON, Lagos State Civil Society Partnership LACSOP, Joint Action Front JAF, Public Interest Coalition PIC and others to prevail on Lagos State government to rescind its decision to commence enforcement of the illegal ban from 1st February, ,2020.
The entire okada and Keke Marwa operators should come together to join every peaceful protest against the order.
The motto of DECOMAN , No more oppression , should be the stand of all Keke and Okada riders regardless of the unions they belong.
We say NO to the BAN on commercial motorcyclists and tricycle operators without providing them with alternative jobs.
A People United Can Never Be Defeated.
Toyin Raheem.
Executive Secretary, CCHR.
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