By Oluwatope Lawanson
The Yoruba Indigenes Foundation has called on all Southwest governors and the legislative members to enforce total ban of motorcycles in the region.
The President of the group, Dr Olumide Aderibole, made the call in a statement signed by the Director of Communications and Strategies of the foundation, Mr Sanjo Olawuyi, in Lagos on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Wednesday ordered the ban of commercial motorcycles riders popularly known as “Okada” riders.
This is against the backdrop of growing menace and nuisance constituted by the `Okada” riders in the state.
The ban becomes effective from June 1, and Sanwo-Olu had directed security operatives to enforce the proscription order across the listed councils.
The affected councils include Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa.
Aderibole explained that nowadays, it was overt that most of the okada riders in Yoruba land were neither disciplined nor trained for the job and this had resulted into the death of so many commuters in the region.
He said: “Okada operation in Yoruba land is now being used as a cover up, for massive influx of non-Yorubas into Yoruba land, causing serious security threats across the region.
“This is the right time for the relevant authorities in Yoruba land, to equip the Amotekun Security outfit with sophisticated equipment.
“This is because it is only sophisticated equipment that can be used to combat the prevailing security challenges in Yoruba land.”
On religious related killings in the country, Aderibole said that religious intolerance was a time bomb which could make or destroy the unity of Nigeria if it was not appropriately addressed by the governments.
