Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu will get massive votes from the Hausa community in his 2023 re-election bid if he reverses Wednesday’s okada ban in six local government areas in the state.
The governor received the assurances from various leaders of the Hausa communities in Lagos, The Punch reported.
Recall that Sanwo-Olu banned okada operations in the councils during a meeting with the state Commissioner of Police, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) at the State House, Ikeja.
The affected councils are Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa, as well as all local council development areas under them.
“We will not sit back and watch criminally-minded people use that mode of transportation (motorcycles) to perpetrate crimes and criminality in Lagos. Lives are being lost on a daily basis, preventable accidents are happening every day and the riders are not respecting any of our traffic laws.
“The situation has led to a complete breakdown of law and order. This ban has come to stay and we will not tolerate any weakness in enforcement,” Sanwo-Olu said.
In his appeal, Seriki of Obalende, Saliu Waziri urged the governor to reconsider.
“This issue has taken us a long time and we have been trying to put our members on the line. I want to advise the government to rethink its decision because Lagos can’t operate without bikes because of traffic. Government should register Okada riders in each local government to know those working in any local government. By so doing, the government would know who to pick when any issue arises.
“Some of our members stay here in Lagos and vote during elections. That should count for something because we contribute to votes during elections. The government should change the system of Okada riders not stopping them,” The Punch quoted him as saying.
Seriki Hausa of Ajah, Ibrahim Ngoma echoed his Obalende counterparts stance.
“Truth be told, Governor Sanwo-Olu has been understanding with Okada people unlike Governor (Babatunde) Fashola. Okada members should obey the law while I appeal to Governor Sanwo-Olu to look into the matter and lift the ban before the election because the ban is affecting my people,” Ngoma said.
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