- …Am a human activist and not interested in keke leadership – Obi
Members of Anambra Keke Drivers Forum
(AKDF) have commended the State government on its role in bringing back sanity at Aroma park Awka.
Speaking to newsmen on Monday July 8, 2024, Secretary Anambra Keke Drivers Forum, (AKDF) Mr. Uchenna Umeh said before now, Aroma park use to be one of the most chaotic Junction in Awka.
” Despite Keke riders operating, you still see people line up in the park, while their are obstructions by the stubborn onces.
“We have done our best by drawing the attention of relevant authorities to intervene but all our efforts was abortive.
“We have talk to the Managing Director of
Anambra Syate Road Traffic Maintenance Agency (ARTMA), Mr. Emeka Konti and arrange to meet with him so that he will deploy his men to work and station here permanently in order to prevent those who are causing problem to stop, but all to no avail.
” We have also talked to the ministry of transport and the Managing Director of
Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) but non of them intervened until we went to OCHA BRIGADE and pleaded.
” This is the reason why there is sanity in Aroma Junction at the moment. As you can see, the junction is very free without obstructions. It is because of the presence of Ocha Brigade and the men of Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG).
” Keke riders in this part are enjoying the operation here because there is orderliness. The reason why the AVG are here is for our own protection.
“When this park was secured for Keke operators to use and manage it by themselves, we received various threats because the owner of the park has to be paid on daily basis and as such, we need to collect money (Park fee) for such payment but we couldn’t because of the threats.
” This threats from cultists are real and not just imaginations. They have interest in collecting money from Keke riders in this park. They are the once who have been doing it before now and they still have intreast.
” Even when the previous owner was still alive, they had interest and when he died, they came in, so as to continue with there own mood of operation.
“They were collecting three hundred naira (300) daily and also collect load and pay but presently, such things are no longer there.
“The presence of the AVG here is to make sure that those introders do not come in and also for the operation to continue the way its been moving, because it guarantees our security. We feel safer with them around.
“We are asking government to bring more AVG men and OCHA Brigade here. We are pleading for their continuous presence in the park.
“Recently. We protested at the gate of Anambra State House of Assembly because we feel we are being exploited over the issue of security profiling of which we are against paying for.
” We have already told government that we have been profiled already when we did biometric capturing and that we are not willing to pay for anyother profiling.
” When you look at the people who have already paid, its nothing different from what we have seen. Its just a matter of writing number on your Keke and collecting money from you.’ Umeh said.
A member Anambra Keke Drivers Forum, Mr. Victor Nwafor while speaking said the Mischief makers are not helping matters because some do not obey the park rules and are still carrying passengers at the entrence and road sides close to the park.
” Despite the presence of officers, some stubborn onces are still loading outside. Sometimes when the notice the absence of the security people, they cut corners. We call on government to deploy more officers’. Nwafor said.
Another member of AKDF Mr. Nweke Amos, an indigene of Ebonyi State while speaking said Comrade Obi has always have the interest of keke driver at heart.
“He is an active who stands by the truth and well being of Keke riders in Anambra State. Comrade Obi has been fighting for
sanity to return in Aroma park Awka and we commend him for his courage and determination against all odds.
“Before now, cultist and touts always invade this park, causing nuisance but the story is different because of the effects of Comrade Obi, their is orderliness and free flow of movement.
” Cultists are disturbing us at this park. They have been threatening us. Some of us have been beaten simply because we insist that we want to be collecting park fees by ourselves to avoid anyone extorting us.
” The presence of Ocha Brigade and the AVG has given us some level of confidence. We are pleading with Governor Chukwuma Soludo to deploy more officers to this park.
“The Governor promised us that Keke drivers will not pay money at government parks but those touts are still collecting money in various parks across the state.
“Despite the fact that we have SASA in the state, i dont actually know what they are doing.
“Here in Aroma park, we are paying two hundred naira (200) that is, one time payment, and that was the agreement we had earlier with the Commissioner for Transport months ago.
“Before now, we were paying three hundred naira daily until Comrade Osita Obi intervened and now we are paying two hundred naira.
” Mischief makers have been trying to frame him up but no Keke driver will ever say that Osita Obi is collecting money from him. Anyone accusing him, is an enemy of Keke driver’s.
“Comrade Osita Obi is an activist and a good citizen of Anambra State who hates injustice and intimidation. We pleaded with him to come and help us and we are happy for all his efforts”. Nweke said.
Reacting, Convener Anambra Keke Drivers Forum, Comrade Osita Obi said his interest is to see sanity in Aroma Junction.
” It is totally unacceptable and embarrassing to us ndi Anambra and the government because this location is situated close to the new government house, Anambra State House of Assembly, the State and Federal High Court, Federal and State Secretariat and B-Division.
” This are critical government institutions and we wont fold our hands and watch cultists act anyhow.
“I dont collect a dime from Keke drivers, rather, am the one spending money on them. My duty is to save them from intimidation and harassment and cult extortion.
” They manage their park and collect the fees and i dont intend and am not interested to be a keke union leader. Am 63 years old, i have paid my dues.
” I am a human right activist. I don’t run Keke union. I established Anambra Keke Drivers Forum (AKDF) strictly for drivers. I am the only person that dont drive in that Forum because am there Cordinator and Convener.
” What am doing, is to create orderliness. Sometime ago, at this particular Aroma ground, someone was gun down. It is embarrassing to ndi Anambra and the state government.
” The free flow of traffic currently going on here is my initiative. I went to the MD of Ocha Brigade and the DPO B-division to convince them to come and clear here and position their men.
” My interest is for touts and cultists to not operate here. I will do anything to maintain it. Am going back to the drawing boad to plan again so that even in the night, decency, orderliness and sanity will be maintained.
” The most deadly cultists in Awka have called me and they have warned me stating that they know my wife and two children but i wont be deterred.
” Am not worried and have sent all the information to the Department of State Security (DSS). They are in position of the numbers and people that calls me, soo, its left for the government, if they allow my life to be wasted but am not going to back in what am doing because it is a calling and vocation and i will keep on doing this for the sake of sanity, decency and orderliness”. Obi said
