The insensitivity of Governor Babatunde Fashola.

One of the best practises adopted by the Nigerian government, especially when it comes to things used mostly by the common people in the society, is the BANNING practise. It is my believe that by now, the news of Gov. Babatunde Fashola banning motorcycle riders, popularly known as OKADA riders has reached everyone, especially in Lagos State.
Repeatedly, i have asked this question to the government as well as her leaders, is banning always the ultimate measure? It’s not enough to wake up one morning and decide to take a measure just for the fact that you want to reduce the number Okada related accidents. What about the other angles that could result to a much more bigger problems?

Yes, i agree, Okada riders causes nuisance in our society. They have one of the most cruel, clumsy characters ever exhibited by any profession in human history. The sight of them struggling and contesting the highways with heavy duty trucks makes you want to kill them. They have caused more accident in the country than any other public conveyance, but is that enough to draw the curtain on them? One thing i know for sure is that everything, no matter how good, have bot pros and cons. All we try to do as human, is to minimize the cons.

Has Fashola considered how the ban will in turn, affect other people as well as activities? How it will introduce more armed robbers and armed robbery activities into the country?
He asked those like myself, who are not happy with the law that banned Okada riders from plying about 475 roads in the metropolis to visit the medical emergency wards of various public hospitals to see the havoc wreaked by their activities. Are there any conveyance that a less hazardous?

The attitude of the governor brings him in close ties with that of the CBN Governor, who after introducing the cashless policy, set out on a journey of currency restructuring and introduction of higher denomination (N5,000 note). Fashola asked Okada rider to start wearing helmet, set for them, certain rules and order they have to follow for a smooth operation, why banning them afterwards?

The Okada riders in their own little way are organized. If you doubt me, go have a misunderstanding with one of them and watch how soon the others will cluster, to either settle the dispute or support their own irrespective of whatever. If they can put up such a “body” with their own little understanding of unionism, then imagine how well they can be refined when the government wades in.

The solution for one who is doing a job not so well isn’t to stop the job entirely, but to find an alternative way to make the person better do the job. I expected Fashola to re-organize these Okada riders, sensitize them and let them know the importance of their service as well as the danger if not well done. I expected him to have taken his time to consider all possible ways of getting through to these people, they are not animals but human being in fact, there are some graduates amongst these people for Christ sake.

Fashola warned that “there is no going back on the enforcement of the state traffic law.” Meanwhile, some of Lagosians have started groaning in pains in the aftermath of the ban. In many areas in the metropolis, many people were stranded as the few commuter buses available were not enough to convey people to their various destinations.

Most of them after waiting endlessly for buses that will never come, resorted to trekking. Even the commuter bus drivers were overwhelmed by the large number of passengers waiting to board their buses. Most in their office dresses, scrambles to get into any bus that happens to come around. Some even have open the boot of the buses to get in on time before others. For how long will this life-style prevail? Are the government officials suffering this same faith?

If some of this people come out tomorrow and decide to call themselves “something-haram”, should we blame them or the government that drove them into it?