In a brazen act of defiance, commercial motorcyclists, commonly known as okada riders, in Ado Ekiti took to the streets on Thursday to protest against the leaders of their association. This protest, which resulted in chaos and disrupted the daily lives of residents, was fueled by allegations of corruption, high-handedness, abuse of power, and misappropriation of funds by the current union executives.
The aggrieved riders blocked several streets and major junctions in the town, demanding that Governor Biodun Oyebanji removes the current leadership and takes control of the sector. According to the riders, the union leaders have been charging exorbitant fees for tickets while mismanaging the funds collected. Furthermore, they claimed that these executives have recruited hooligans who brazenly assault and attack fellow riders.
The protest gained even more momentum when the riders shared an incident where a motorcyclist, carrying a passenger, was forcefully shoved by one of these miscreants. As a result, both the rider and the passenger fell off the bike, sustaining severe injuries.
The tension escalated as the protesting okada riders were eventually dispersed by a team of armed policemen. Meanwhile, some leaders of the association were spotted hiding at the Ijigbo roundabout, presumably seeking refuge from a possible retaliation. However, they declined to comment on the ongoing situation.
