By Ifeizu Joe
Tricycle operators in Awka North and South Local Government Areas of Anambra State, under the aegis of Anambra Keke Drivers Forum (AKDF), yesterday inspected some road projects of Governor Chukwuma Soludo in the area.
The operators, who were mobilized by their coordinator, Mr Osita Obi said they were satisfied with the ongoing road construction across the state by the governor, describing it as proof of accountability for their taxes.
There had been protest in the early days of Soludo’s administration by the operators, who accused the governor of high-handedness and oppressive tax regime. The matter was however later addressed.
During yesterday’s inspection, coordinator of the forum, Mr Osita Obi said: “The essence of this inspection today is for keke drivers to see what the governor is doing, where the tax they’re paying are deployed to.
“We praise the governor where he’s doing well and ask him to continue. We also want more Keke drivers to come into government tax net, so that government will have more money to embark on more roads.
“This exercise is not politically motivated. I’m not swayed by any political party, but totally dependent. I praise what is good and criticize what is bad.
“This is my brain child. I’m the sponsor, originator, financier and facilitator of this forum. I’m not a Keke driver, but I came in as a rights activist when I saw the heavy tax being imposed on this people. We led a protest to the governor, and he listened and disbanded some groups that were collecting illegal tax from this people.”
The tricyclists who also spoke to journalists praised the governor for the quality of roads, saying that there is no better way to campaign than to show Anambra people his projects.
One of them, Amos Nweke said: “With what we have seen on ground, we are now strengthened to do more to pay our taxes, and we will vote for Soludo if he contests again.”
