OSOGBO MOTORCYCLISTS PROTEST BY HOOLIGANS - Association

The two bodies of motorcyclists association in the state of Osun, the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners & Riders Association of Nigeria ACOMORAN and Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria MOTUN  have dissociated themselves from the protest by some motorcyclists today in Osogbo, Osun capital.

The association chairmen who spoke to newsmen on the incidence described the protest as very strange, uncalled for and totally unnecessary. They disclosed that none of their members were involved and the association was not carried* along by the protesters.

The Chairman of ACOMORON, Comrade Ajisefini Mukaila said the majority of the cyclists involved in the protest are non indigenes coming from neighboring states to operate in Osun.

According to him, 'these are the people we have complained about to the government. They come into the state and perpetrate all sorts of criminal acts such as kidnapping, armed robbery and ritual killing. They are the ones kicking against our mutual agreement with the state government to register and have ID tags and jackets for every operator so as to curb the menace these set of people represent to the society'

Their protest today has nothing to do with any fees or levies . The fees collection they claimed to be protesting against have been in practice since the year 2017. During the days of former governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the *monumental development that our taxes are funding can be seen. Why would anyone just wake up two years after to begin protests? They are at best being sponsored by government detractors or they are simply merchants of criminality who want to perpetuate their lawlessness. We  have tried to register  them without positive efforts. And have even approached the government in this regard', he added.

On his part, Comrade Adebayo Tajudeen Osun Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria's Coordinator disclosed that they as a body had in 2017, benefited from many of the empowerment programs and other laudable schemes of the APC led government such as loan acquisition and government procurement of motorcycles for members on instalment repayment plan. A program that is working and being commended by us. Tell me why any of us would protest against that', He concluded

The two Chairmen and entire executives thereafter called on Osun State government to ensure they bring to book the illegal motorcyclists operators and protesters. They also urged the government to fish out their sponsors too.

Newsmen reported that the protesters had gone on rampage around noon on Tuesday 21th of May, 2019 blocking Olaiya junction and other strategic places in Osogbo the state capital of Osun capital, causing traffic gridlock for hours.