Govt Restricts Tricycle Operations In Aba, Umuahia

…As Groups Seek Return Of APGA Guber Mandate 

WORRIED by the rising incidence of criminal activities allegedly associated with Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Operators in Abia State, the governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has re-ordered the enforcement of restriction order placed on tricycle operators in Aba and Umuahia, with immediate effect.

The operational hours initiated by the immediate past governor, Theodore Orji was from 6:00am to 7:00pm daily. Ikpeazu’s order, which also sustains total ban of commercial motorcycles’ operation in the state metropolis, restricted them to communities and outskirts of the capital.

The order, came as a group of youths under the aegis of Alex Otti Prayer Network and Abia State Students’ Union staged peaceful protests in parts of the state last Thursday, urging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to return the state governorship mandate to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Dr. Alex Otti, claiming he was the clear winner of the last April election in the state.

Addressing members of the public at Umuosu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, the protesters, displaying placards, warned that any further attempt to assassinate Otti would lead to war.

Some of their placards read “no weapon used against Otti will prosper”, “Abians gave their mandate to APGA and Otti is the elected governor.”

Speaking to journalists, the spokesman of the group, Mr. Catechist Jona said their members numbering over 500 were staging similar protests at Aba and other areas in the state.

According to him, “the protest is to demonstrate our detest over the things that went wrong in the state including the deplorable state of infrastructure which we know Otti can address easily.

We cannot continue to watch as these things continue to get worse in the state, hence we want the person with the people’s mandate to take over the state.”

The Chief Press Secretary to Ikpeazu, Mr. Godwin Adindu, had in a statement, stated that the restriction order was consequent upon the resurgence of armed robbery and other sundry crimes in the cities of Aba, Umuahia and its environs in the recent time.

Security reports confirm that these hoodlums operate with Keke Tricycle and Okada and as part of the security measures towards checkmating the activities of these hoodlums, government is hereby re-enforcing the old rule and order as it relate to the operation of Keke and Okada riders in Abia State. “Henceforth, Keke riders are only allowed to operate between the hours of 6:00am and 7:00pm in Aba and Umuahia, while Okada remains banned in the metropolis.”