Nyok|2 August 2018
On the 31st of July, commercial taxi drivers in Calabar metropolis, Cross River State where seen to be suffering and smiling —fooling themselves on the streets of the state capital as they were, under the aegis of Collation(sic) of Commercial Bus and Taxi Drivers, protesting increasing tax regimes when at the same time endorsing the 2019 bids of the incumbent governor of Cross River State, Mr Ben Ayade.
Inscribed on some of the placards they brandished where expressions like —'CTRA registration is enough', in another placard, it was 'Ayade carry go 2019'. This made the public confused and condemned them.
According to one Andrea Ekeng Inyang who reported the incident on social media, 'The protest led under the Collation of Commercial Bus and Taxi Drivers today led a protest to the Governor's Office in Calabar to register their displeasures against officials of Government who have made live unbearable for motorist in the state while milking the motorist in the State dry.
'Stating the obvious is the incessant harassment of motorist by the Department Of Public Transportation (DOPT) under the instructions of the Special Adviser to the Governor Mr. Emmanuel Mbora.
'The drivers reveal that Mr Mbora charges drivers in Calabar Metropolis N11,500 for wrong packing whereas no clear cut delineation and road signs to that effect while engaging street urchins to carry out these dastardly activities.
They also noted that these cash are paid by hand and not to government bank account. After payment, victims are again made to pay a fee for their deflected tyres for pumping by the same individuals who were responsible for the deflection.
'Also the issue of security number crested boldly on their vehicles as a means of identification. The drivers complained bitterly of the exploiting strategies employed to scuttle them of their hard earned money as they are coerced to pay a fee of N2,500 for the security number and N500 for the actual cresting of the number by the UNIFIED DRIVERS ASSOCIATION CRS.
'Accordingly, the accused the rivalry association of conniving with these elements to openly loot them of their hard earned monies.
'This will mark the second time in less than two weeks the drivers will be protesting against victimization by unscrupulous elements of Government in the State to the DOPT Office. Unfortunately, their protest was short lived as the Police began firing shots to despair the protesters who later reconvened at the DOPT office and were addressed by a representative of the DOPT.'
See the sad aspect of the commentary as captured by Andrea…, 'Assuredly, the Chairman of the protest pledged his unflinching support and that of his association to the reelection bid of HE Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade while calling on him to investigate and take actions against these individuals to aid them move freely and do their daily business in Calabar without fear and intimidation.'
BLOGGERTORIAL
Where they endorsing their oppressor for another term of four years? Is their protest not against the tax regimes? Doesn't the final buck stops at the table of the state CEO, Ayade? If it is, why were they endorsing? Could we say they were in their right frame of minds? Have we lost our youths? Are Nigerian youths this timid and foolish? Wither Nigerian youths? I understand there were some elders there too… Hmmm! I am lost for words!
Nyok
Is the Blogger-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NegroidHaven
