By Praise Chinecherem
Former member, Anambra State House of Assembly, Chief Boniface Okonkwo has described motorcycle operators in the state as law abiding citizens favourably disposed to contribute their quota to growth of Internally Generated Revenue of the state.
Okonkwo stated this during inauguration of State Executive of Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria (MOUN) at the Southeast Headquarters of the union in Amansea.
He appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to consider lifting ban placed on motorcyclists in some parts of the state to ameliorate their sufferings.
He lamented associating motorcycle operators with undesirable elements, hinting that less than ten percent of criminals use motorcycles during operations.
According to him, motorcycles were not the only means of movement used by criminals.
Okonkwo who doubles as Chairman South East Zone, MOUN , said he would work closely with Southeast Governors to achieve the Union’s objectives
Assuring his members’ readiness to identify bad eggs giving the Union bad name, Okonkwo stressed that proper registration of members would go a long way in fishing out undesirable elements in the system.
He further announced the Union is now an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and would benefit from federal government palliative packages.
He also announced that local government chapters would be inaugurated by state executive, just as he called for harmonisation of the various groups.
Deputy National President of the union in charge of Administration, Chief John Onedibe called for unity of purpose among members, promising to accompany state executive to the tour of Council Areas.
State Chairman, MOUN, Hon Sir Bartholomew igwedibia said the union was out to sanitise activities of motorcycle operators, appealing to members to keep the flag flying.
He said Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity accepted the union as the only body representing okada operators in the country, assuring members of assiduous efforts to take the union to enviable position by carrying everybody along.
