By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
With less than two months to his exit from office, Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has extended dividends of democracy to both commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in the state.
The governor exercising his executive powers, yesterday, suspended all form of levies and rates paid by Keke and okada riders in the state with immediate effect.
In a special announcement issued by the secretary to state government, Chief Patrick Ukah advised Okada riders and Keke riders to stop paying such levies and rates till further notice.The statement warned that any defaulter of this directive shall be sanctioned.
Part of the Special announcement reads:’It is hereby announced for the information of the general public particularly Deltans and residents of the state that His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State has approved the stoppage of the collection of all forms of levies from tricycle and motorcycle riders in the state under any guise, until the ongoing review of existing levies and fees is concluded.Consequently, Tricycle and motorcycle riders in the state are by this announcement advised not to pay any form of levies to any person or group of persons until further notice.’
Southernvoicenews gathered that this announcement would bring considerable economic relief to Okada and Keke riders who pay multiple levies and rates to local councils and motor park touts in the state.
Most of the times, such agents of revenue collectors often had bloody battles and intimidate Keke and Okada and okada riders as both criminals and cultists are often recruited to forcefully extort the lone riders at every local government.