David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
Tricycle operators in Awka North and South Local Government Areas of Anambra State under the aegis of Anambra Keke Drivers Forum (AKDF), yesterday inspected some road projects of the state Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, in the area.
The operators, who were mobilised by their Coordinator, Mr. Osita Obi, said they were satisfied with the ongoing road construction across the state by the governor, describing it as proof of accountability for their taxes.
There had been protest in the early days of Soludo’s administration by the operators, who accused the governor of high-handedness and oppressive tax regime. The matter was however later addressed.
During yesterday’s inspection, the Coordinator of the forum, Obi, said: “The essence of this inspection today is for keke drivers to see what the governor is doing, and where the tax they’re paying are deployed to.
“We praise the governor where he’s doing well and ask him to continue. We also want more Keke drivers to come into the government tax net, so that the government would have more money to embark on more roads.
“This exercise is not politically motivated. I’m not swayed by any political party, but totally dependent. I praise what is good and criticise what is bad.
“This is my brain-child. I’m the sponsor, originator, financier and facilitator of this forum. I’m not a Keke driver, but I came in as a rights activist when I saw the heavy tax being imposed on this people. We led a protest to the governor, and he listened and disbanded some groups that were collecting illegal tax from this people.”
The tricyclists, who also spoke to journalists, praised the governor for the quality of roads, saying that there is no better way to campaign than to show the Anambra people his projects.
