OJO ISAAC writes that motorists moving in and out of Anambra State would have been subjected to harrowing experience last Friday if not for the intervention of Sen Ifeanyi Ubah who pleaded with tipper drivers who blocked Onitsha-Enugu express way in protest of alleged government extortion.
The President General (PG) of tipper drivers, Nze Ebuka Davidson said his organization decided to embark on civil disobedience to protest extortion by government officials.
He pointed out that his members are daily subjected to harassment from touts who are working for certain government officials.
Nze Davidson said the last Friday blockage was the third time the tipper drivers are blocking the dual carriage way because all entreaties to government appear to be falling on deaf ears.
“Six of our drivers are in different hospitals across the state receiving treatment after they were brutalized by touts employed by the state government.
“The government on several occasions used SARS to arrest our principal officers not minding the fact that is a court judgement in our favour. The government has called for an interface twice but it was only the Commissioner of Police who came around.
“I want to place it on record that David Nzekwe is getting two million Naira, Prof Theresa two million Naira and David Nzekwe is smiling to the bank with three million Naira every month from the illegal levies imposed on us.
“One Wiper told us that there is nothing we can do about the extortion and that he is going to be the next deputy governor after the incumbent. That is why we have to sustain the struggle to liberate ourselves from the shackles of oppression, intimidations and extortion.” He stressed.
The Vice Chairman of the group, Mr Boniface Ezekwesili said that the tipper drivers only suspended their civil disobedience because of the eminent persons like Sen Ifeanyi Ubah and others who have promised to look into their grievance.
The senator representing Anambra South in the red chamber of the National Assembly, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah appealed to the demonstrating tipper drivers to sheath their sword and that he would personally engage the persons and government officials being accused.
Sen Ubah who said emphatically that the tipper drivers have absolute right to protest against extortion said he wanted the aggrieved drivers to consider many travellers who are moving in and out of the state because of Christmas.
He assured the drivers that he would identify with them at their trying period even as he booked appointment with the officials of the group for deeper engagement.
The tipper drivers blocked the Onitsha-Enugu express way at Ogboefere area of Onitsha for solid five hours before Sen Ubah intervened.
