If You Don’t Like Ndi Aka Odo, Don’t Extort Drivers, Others, Says Soludo at Endorsement Rally

By Tony Okafor, Onitsha

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo on Monday defended the operations of the Special Anti-Tout Squad of Anambra (SASA), popularly known as Ndi Aka Odo (pestle-wielding officers), insisting that the outfit was established to protect drivers and sanitize the state’s transport system—not to harass citizens.

Speaking at a mega endorsement rally organized by drivers and transport unions at the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium, Onitsha, the governor warned that anyone opposed to the activities of Ndi Aka Odo must not extort or intimidate motorists under any guise.

“If you don’t like Ndi Aka Odo, then don’t extort drivers or others,” Soludo said, adding,“Their duty is to protect transporters and ensure order in our parks. They are not for intimidation but for reform.”

The rally, attended by thousands of drivers, tricycle operators, and transport stakeholders across the 21 local government areas of the state, marked a massive show of solidarity for the governor’s re-election bid in the November 8, 2025 governorship poll.

Before Soludo’s emergence as governor, Anambra State was notorious for the activities of touts and thugs who operated freely in parks and markets, extorting drivers and traders in the name of government levies, a situation that tainted the state’s image and discouraged investors.

Determined to restore sanity, Soludo upon assumption of office created SASA to flush out the touts and secure the transport sector.

The unit, often criticized for heavy-handedness, has nonetheless been credited with curbing extortion and restoring order in motor parks and loading points.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to law and order, Soludo warned officials of state agencies and touts against illegal levies and cash collections.

“Don’t pay cash to anybody—please, don’t! It’s not for the government,” he cautioned, stating,“All payments must be through the official government digital platforms. Anyone collecting cash is acting illegally, and we will not condone it.”

The governor also directed that any driver arrested by the Anambra Traffic Management Agency (ATMA) should make payments only through the state’s digital system.

He vowed to establish a new task force to clamp down on illegal revenue collectors still operating in parts of the state.

“There are still areas where touts harass transporters. We will go after them. Any government official or tout found extorting drivers will be dealt with decisively,” he said.

While thanking drivers for their endorsement, Soludo described them as critical stakeholders and the “lifeline of Anambra’s economy.”

“We have fixed many roads so that drivers will no longer visit mechanics frequently. You are partners in the progress of Anambra. The roads we are building are to make your work easier and our economy stronger,” the governor added.

He further urged motorists to respect traffic rules, noting that traffic violations often lead to fatalities.

“Traffic offences are serious. Anyone disobeying traffic laws should be checked, because disobedience can lead to death. We don’t want deaths on our roads,” he said.

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Transport, Mrs. Patricia Igwebuike, described the rally as “a show of gratitude from the transport sector to the Solution Government.”

“The transport sector is the biggest beneficiary of Governor Soludo’s administration. Over 1,000 kilometres of roads have been constructed, and our drivers no longer spend as much on vehicle repairs,” she said.

Mr Celestine Anere, Managing Director of the Ocha Brigade and Coordinator of the Solution Marshals/Transport, said drivers and the transport marshals were “the foot soldiers of the Solution Government,” ready to ensure Soludo’s re-election through lawful means.

Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Anambra Drivers Forum, Comrade Osita Obi, hailed Soludo’s leadership as “visionary and people-centered,” crediting him for restoring dignity and sanity to the transport system.

“Before Soludo, our parks were battlegrounds of extortion and harassment. Drivers suffered while touts thrived. But today, through his courage and reforms, the narrative has changed,” Obi said to loud applause.

Obi highlighted the success of the state’s unified digital ticketing system and the Smart Transportation Management Scheme, which he said had reduced corruption and improved traffic flow across major cities.

“These are not media stories—they are our lived realities. That’s why we stand firmly behind Soludo—the people’s governor, the friend of drivers, and the reformer of our transport system,” Obi stressed.

Other speakers, including representatives of tricycle operators and commercial drivers’ unions, pledged to mobilize their members across the state to deliver victory for Soludo in the coming poll.

One of the Keke union leaders disclosed that the group had over 6,000 registered members who would vote for the governor.

“Before now, bad roads made us spend heavily on repairs. But under Soludo, our maintenance costs have dropped. We will all vote for him—he has changed the story,” he said.

The rally ended with solidarity chants and pledges of support, which organizers described as a “renewed covenant” between the transport community and the Soludo administration.