IN the wake of the ban on commercial motorcycles, popularly known in local parlance as okada in Asaba and other major cities by the Delta State Government, there have been an avalanche of observations by commuters that can be addressed one way or the other.
At the center of the ban was the impish and inglorious attitude of motorcycle operators, which served as visible alternative means of transportation, with penetrations into the inner parts of cities and major townships.
It is against this backdrop that the dynamic Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori announced to the admiration of Deltans and residents alike, his administration’s plan to float the intra- city transportation system, apparently to mitigate the pains and suffering occasioned by the recent ban of okada in the state.
Governor Oborevwori disclosed this when he received on courtesy call, the Forum of Female Permanent Secretaries in the state, led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Dr. (Mrs.) Mininie Oseji.
He said his administration was trying its best to ensure that civil servants in the state live a very good life even after retirement, adding that the issue of mass transit in Asaba and Warri was actually needed now that people are clamouring that there should be no okada in Asaba.
Recall that the Delta State Government, had a few months ago banned the use of commercial motorcycles as a means of transportation alongside metal scavenging within the state capital territory.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, had said that the ban was necessitated by the preponderance of crime committed with okada and the frequently reported cases of vandalism of public facilities by the scavengers.
No doubt, the idea seems cheery for the very fact, that when floated, it will profoundly mitigate the obvious pains of commuters and ameliorate the suffering being experienced by the people, most of who are urban poor as they go out on daily basis to eke out a living; we hope that government will quickly implement such a robust and people-oriented policy.
Ordinarily, we would have expected that this action was taken as a first step before the eventual ban; however, it’s better late than never and we applaud the governor for thinking along that line; an attribute that distinguished him from his contemporaries and clearly endeared him to the hearts of Deltans.
While we ruminate on this unassailable move of the state government, in our estimations, it will be appropriate for government as well, to acquire more tricycles.
Obviously, this is quite serious considering the ravaging erosion that has done incalculable damages in most cities and basically taken a toll on the health of many commuters struggling to survive the current health-wrenching economic realities of the APC -led Federal Government.
We cannot but appreciate its genuine and commendable concern for the welfare and wellbeing of the masses as exemplified by such commendable transportation policy.
Nonetheless we commend the Governor for making public, such a robust idea, which will go a long way in reshaping the individual and collective perception of the ideal concept of democracy in its noblest form.
As we bask in the euphoria of the golden era of the envisaged public mode of intra-city mass transportation in the state capital and other major cities, it is our belief the project takes off early enough so as to consolidate on the okada ban.achieve the purpose for which it was meant for.
