Opinion: Fashola, why so deceitful?

inShare

by Olumide Makanjuola

 

If you know Lagos State very well, you will understand how ridiculous and insensitive the state government has made itself look with the ‘okada’ restriction law on 475 roads.

In the last few months, we have heard rumor about the Lagos State government banning motor cycle popularly call ‘okada’. For some reason, I thought this must be the most expensive joke of all time considering how the Lagos State governor used ‘okada’ rider for his election campaign last year.  Apparently, those days are gone and forgotten by the governor.
I have asked myself many times what could have lead to this ‘okada’ “restriction’’ now obviously ‘okada’ ban but I certainly can’t figure out any reasonable justification. If you talk of ’okada’ accident, it no big deal, buses do have accident across the state and am convinced we don’t have record of how many people who have lost their lives from bus accident. I would have expected the State government to carry out a survey to assess how convenient people find the public transportation especially mini buses and BRT within the state. With this, they will understand how crazy it gets trying to move from one location to another within the state using mini buses and the glorified molue, BRT. Also, I know some of you might want to argue without foundation on ’okada’ being the major transportation robber find very accessible for their operation but what happened to buses and cars? I will let you figure this out and I hope you will be sincere in your judgment.
If you know Lagos State very well, you will understand how ridiculous and insensitive the state government has made itself look with ’okada’ restriction on 475 roads. I always don’t think I need to say this but for those who might not be aware, Lagos State has the smallest landscape across the country and is the most populated in Nigeria and across the West Africa sub-region. The commercial buses in the state cannot provide for the entire populace except we want to deceive ourselves. I know some of you might want to argue this because you probably seat in your padded car with full air condition and have no idea what those who access public transportation go through. You also see ’okada’ rider as those you think constitute foolish driving who have potential of hitting your car or had done this before. But ask yourself this question; don’t private cars and public buses also drive irresponsibly?
I have carefully monitored how difficult it has been for people who find ’okada’ as other means of transporting for themselves across the state. I also looked at the frustration people are forced to deal with in the last few days and what I could  draw from this is how inconsiderate, heartless, and selfish our government both at the local council, state and federal level has become. I don’t know who advise the governor on transportation issue in the state but am confident the person is very disconnect from reality of situation on transportation across the state. This is the only country where we cut off amenities without providing option for users of such service. The government has refused to provide sufficient and accessible transportation system and yet we are’’ Restricting’’ citizen who have taken lead in this initiative and also find this as a means to survive with their families. The government says it only restricted ’okada’ on 475 roads in Lagos state but Police officer and other uniform officer has taken this beyond the 475 roads with baseless justification. ‘Okada’ riders now run even within street just because the hungry police officer has seen this as a mean of making more money daily
However, I would like the government to consider some steps towards addressing the frustration it has landed it citizen in the last few days from this unjustifiable decision on ’okada’ restriction.

1. Allow ’okada’ to run their business during the peak period (6am-10am and 4pm-9pm) when traffic is huge and buses are very limited especially Mondays to Fridays.
2. Create sensible traffic laws that will control and guide the usage of ‘okadas’ in the state.
3. Carry out a survey to appraise how accessible the populace find the public transportation system and what they think the options are.

If the Lagos government would consider these three steps, we might at some point arrive at a solution in addressing the transportation crisis in the state.
YNaija.com