Bode George, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), says the ban of okada and tricycles in some areas of Lagos will only increase the spate of
armed robbery in the state.
On February 1, the government of Babajide Sanwo-Olu
restricted commercial motorcycles and tricycles in 15 local government areas
and local council development areas.
The action was received with widespread criticisms among
Lagosians.
Commenting on the ban during an interview with PUNCH,
George, a native of the state, said the action would only “expand the kingdom
of armed robbers”.
He said the ban is “inimical to anything that makes sense”,
asking if any alternative employments have been put in place for those
affected.
He advised Sanwo-Olu, whom he described as his younger
brother, to revisit the law.
“How can they (state government) do that? Let us forget
about politics, the governor is my younger brother and his uncle is my friend.
I talk to him like an elder. He should sit down and revisit that law,” George
said.
“It is inimical to anything that makes any sense at
all. Most workers in Lagos work in the
Island, how do they get to their offices early now? Must everybody buy a car?
Which alternative employment do they have for the people that they have stopped
from riding a commercial motorcycle? So, how do they survive?
“They are only expanding the kingdom of armed robbers. The
number of people out of job is unbelievable and you are adding to it. Get the
Amotekun to be in every area and they will monitor the movement of these people
(okada riders).”
Speaking on the 2023 presidency, George said ideally, the
PDP should zone the ticket to the south-east.
He added that if Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), should contest the election, then he would
challenge him in the race.
George described a Tinubu presidency as disruptive, vowing
to denounce his citizenship if the APC leader emerged as president.
“I had said it before that ideally, from our party, once it
comes back to the South, it must go to the South-East…because they have never
had it, but if the name Tinubu pops up in the APC, I would go all out to
contest with him,” he said.
“Let us get out there because it would be the greatest
disservice for our nation to have him contest as a presidential candidate.
“It would be the most illogical and most disruptive issue to
have him (Tinubu) elected as President. If this happens, I will disown Nigeria
to take the citizenship of Togo or any other country.”
On the widespread insecurity across the country, George said
sacking the service chiefs would not put an end to the problem.
According to him, insurgency is as a result of “mistrust
between people of different faiths and tribes”.
“Nigerians are now getting involved, is it the problems of
service chiefs that is responsible for all these? What we have right now is the
insurgency largely as a result of mistrust between people of different faiths
and tribes,” he said.
“The service chief is just one man and a tree does not make
a forest. It does not mean that if you change one man all is well.
“The issue is a collective responsibility. Their loyalty to
the country must outshine everything they think of.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com