Scores of people were reportedly injured on Wednesday when commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada riders, clashed with ticket sellers in Akure, Ondo State, over alleged multiple levies….
Scores of people were reportedly injured on Wednesday when commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada riders, clashed with ticket sellers in Akure, Ondo State, over alleged multiple levies.
The clash disrupted commercial motorcycle operations in parts of the state capital, with riders protesting what they described as repeated and unauthorised collections.
The dispute centred on the sale of an “emblem” reportedly carrying charges of more than N7,000.
Some riders accused the Chairman of Akure South Local Government Area, Gbenga Fasua, of authorising the collections, alleging that operators were being made to pay multiple levies for the same purpose.
One of the riders, Jimoh Akindele, described the situation as double taxation.
“We see this as double taxation because we cannot imagine Hon. Fasua selling an emblem to riders in Akure South. He claimed it was meant for the local government and they are collecting N7,000 from us as a total package,” Akindele said.
He alleged that collectors had been moving around different locations to demand payments from riders.
“We learned that this levy is not for the state government but Akure South Local Government, and the state government is unaware of it. That is why we are saying enough is enough. We cannot take it anymore,” he said.
Another rider, Adekunle, said operators were not opposed to paying legitimate government charges but demanded transparency.
“We are not against paying government levies, but there should be transparency. You cannot collect money from us several times for the same purpose,” he said.
He alleged that riders were made to pay in the morning only for another collector to demand a different ticket later in the day.
Adekunle also accused Tiger Base, a local security outfit established by the council chairman, of intimidating riders over the issue.
He appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene and prevent the dispute from escalating.
But Fasua denied authorising the disputed levy, insisting that neither he nor the Akure South Local Government Council was responsible for the emblem being sold to riders.
The chairman said he became aware of the issue after meeting some of the protesters near the Government House in Akure.
According to him, the riders complained that they had already purchased stickers earlier in the year, including one issued during the Ogun Festival, but were being forced to obtain another.
Fasua said he immediately ordered the suspension of the sales pending clarification from the state government.
“I told them to hold on with these sales and let us get clarity from Mr Governor. I subsequently went to about two other spots and told them to stop until we get clarity,” he said.
He said the use of Akure South Local Government’s name on the emblem did not mean it was authorised by his administration.
“Where the issue lies is that they wrote the name of my local government on it, but it does not come from me. When they showed me the first and second stickers for the year, they were using the name of my local government to generate funds. I know nothing about it, and not even a dime has come to the local government,” Fasua said.
The chairman added that he personally examined one of the disputed emblems, which he said carried charges of more than N7,000.
“I snapped a copy of the emblem they showed me. It is over N7,000. So, if this is being sold for N3,000 or N7,000-plus and not even one naira comes to the local government, that is why I said let me speak with Mr Governor,” he said.
Fasua urged all parties to remain calm and avoid further actions capable of threatening peace in Akure.
