As Okada is banned
By Abdulaziz
Ahmad Abdulaziz Fagge
“Blessed is he
who found his work, let
him ask no
other blessedness”
Thomas Carlye
(1795-1881)
One of the
worst problems we have in Nigeria is what I can term neo-autocratic way
of governance, in which a person will think or perhaps dream of
something over night (even unconsciously) and the next morning devoid of
x-raying that thing and seeking professional views if not the opinions
of the citizenry in general, s/he will just announce the enforcement of
that particular monopole idea.
This is the
same case with the recent sudden announcement by Mr. Demolisher, the FCT
minister, Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i that; as from 1st October,
2006, he doesn’t like to see any commercial motor cyclist (okada man)
operating in his beloved, born-again city, Abuja. With his unconvinced
reasons in which he camouflage he describe the okada riders “obnoxious
and dangerous” unsafe to operate in “the city of the millennium?”
However, as
a person living in Kano who knows the reckless driving of okadas here in
Kano I can agree with El-Rufa’i if he said those okadas of Abuja are
riding recklessly (nevertheless, I believe those operating in there are
law abiding compared to those in Kano or Lagos). Yet that reason (of
reckless riding) alone is not enough to substantiate that audacious
decision of El-Rufa’i. Because reckless riding is reparable and
reformable, either by enforcing strict laws against this particular act
or simply and peacefully by borrowing a leaf from the republic of
Cameroon (shame to us!) whereby those okada men receives intensive
training in a special training school and became duly registered before
they start plying the road, this will really assist in checkmating the
problem and regulates the whole profession.
Foresightlessly, without any consultations El-Rufa’i single-handedly
decided to deprive those helpless people of their means of earning
livelihood. The question to ponder over is; what alternative did the
government provided for these people as it banned them from doing their
legitimate job? If the answer is sadly “None” then there is a gigantic
trouble and dozens of qualms waiting to happen.
How could
you grabbed away food from somebody and expect that particular person to
be the same person as he was? As Bob Marley once said “Hungry man is an
angry man” therefore such acts would inevitably erupt people into many
acts that will not augur well for the peaceful and economic wellbeing of
the country. A person with children and a wife or two that solely defend
on him for their needs and he defend on his work (okada) in order to
satisfy his families’ needs without going from one big house to another
from one politician to the other, which at the end will not satisfied
his need, as Bette Davis (1908-1989) once asserted “It has been
my experience that one cannot, in any shape or form defend on human
relations for lasting reward. It is only work that really satisfies.”
And he is now suddenly asked to stop his struggle of emancipicating
himself and defending on himself economically. What condition do you
think such a person will find himself? What action will he take then? Of
course he will strive to find the way out. And with the condition we are
in Nigeria now, of abject poverty and massive unemployment, the hard way
must be the only way. One must earn living by hook or crook and the
alternative will not be more than taking gun or ritual activities.
Akin to the
retirement of 30,000 federal government staffs, this decision of banning
okada operation, I am afraid will further exacerbate evil deeds and
threaten the peace and harmony of the country. Provided such acts will
continue I don’t see why armed robbery will not continue to skyrocket. I
don’t know whether the recent order of guns for the police have been
done in anticipation of the situation ahead, even if its so, no matter
how much guns and other weapons will be supplied it will not disallow
hungry man from showcasing his angry. Only fairness and justice are the
solution to any violence of such kind. Allow citizens to feed from their
sweat since you cannot provide job for them, remember there are
graduates amongst these okada operators.
Abdulaziz
Fagge, resides at # 351 Hassn
Dan Auta Avenue Fagge Kano
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