Deputy National President of Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria(MOUN) Comrade Julius Bobi displaying to explain the differences the real real and fake ticket while addressing the press on Friday.
By Samuel Ogude
Deputy National President of Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria(MOUN) Comrade Julius Bobi and State Deputy Chairman of Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), Famous Ogbe Foghola said the Chairman of Ndokwa West LG Area who doubled as the state Chairman of Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association(CMTOADS),Chief Goddy Obi Nzete allegedly gave financial inducement to other local government area Chairmen in the state to use police to arrest and intimidate their members to buy tickets of CMTOADS, an organization which is illegal in the state. The duo of Comrades Bobi and Foghola made this known while addressing the press on Friday in Warri.
Speaking specifically, Comrade Foghola that Chief Nzete has allegedly put them (LG Chairmen) on monthly salary of N300, 000 monthly while their Personal Assistants allegedly collect N150, 000 on monthly basis to perfect their job of instigating the police to arrest them. According to him, it is the Udu Council boss, Chief Vincent Oyibode that has taken this act of victimization seriously. His words:” Ndokwa West Local Government Chairmen who is also Chairman of CMTOADS. He now influences all the local governments Chairmen and put them on monthly salary of N300, 000 for every month…”
According to him, apart from others, he has been a victim of the arrest himself as he was taken to Ovwian Police station by DSS. They said both associations are registered and recognized trade unions adding that, while MOUN is an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), TOAN is an affiliate of Trade Union Congress (TUC) and free to operate like other labour unions in the federation and wondered why most of their men are being arrested, harassed and prosecuted by the police and deprived from collecting check-off dues in the state- their legitimate duties.
They therefore called on the Inspector General of Police, Delta State Commissioner of Police to call their men to order just as they appealed to Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to intervene in the matter to enable them operate freely by collecting their check-off dues due the Unions from their members. While calling on their members to remain calm, they charged them to be resolute and not succumb to any form of intimidation from the police to purchase tickets from CMTOADS.
They used the medium to thank the Governor Oborevwori for Unions’ operation and his developmental strides in the state just as they promised to always work as they did in 2023, to actualize his mandate for second tenure come 2027. However, when contacted the Chairman of Udu Council, Chief Vincent Oyibode said he is not part of their Union whether Motorcycle or Tricycle. According to him, he has never chased any one with police adding that, Motorcycle or Tricycle does not bring revenue to the local government area. He said, aside the Chairman of Ndokwa West who is their Chairman, no other Council Chairmen are involved in their matter.
His words:” Thank God l am Journalist, can anybody point anyone l have chased with Police? This is very strange… Why would they call my name? If at the end of the day when they write anything against me and I take them to Court to show me when l make the arrest, can they defend it?” Also when contacted, Ndokwa West Local Government Area ,Chief Goddy Obi Nzete said:” Do your investigative journalism then, know what to do ” while the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe dismissed the allegation against the police when contacted.