By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
A concerned Nigerian, who is a Person with Disability (PWD), Muhammad Salahudden Nuhu has staged a one-man protest to the Nigerian Union of Journarlists, (NUJ) Kaduna State Council, over the decision of the state government to ban motorcycle taxi (okada) in the state.
In a chat with journaliats on Monday, Nuhu, a resident of Kakuri in Kaduna South Local Government Area of the state, said as a PWD member, he can not move without the use of his motorcycle.
According to him, this is his only means of mobility to pursue his daily activities in life, expressing fears that with the ban on ground by government, how he will face life when he has no other means of livelihood.
“The State Government said this drastic decision is to reclaim peace and security within our loved state. At this juncture, I support any legal and helpful effort to bring back peace in Kaduna State.
“To this end, as a Kaduna State indigene, I’m vehemently not in support of the ban on motorcycle rides especially for our members – Persons with Disability, (PWDs) at least in the Kaduna metropolis.
“However, we urge the Kaduna State Government to permit riding of motorcycles for the PWDs within the Kaduna metropolitan city and other localities under incessant bandits raids,” he appealed.
However, he said a copy of his petition has been submitted to the Kaduna State Police Command and other security agencies.
Read the full petition below:
*PETITION AGAINST THE BAN ON MOTORCYCLE RIDE IN KADUNA STATE*
Muhammad Salahuddeen NuhuAddress: No 2 Block 5 Makera, Mai Ruwa Road Kakuri, Kaduna
08033459015
4th October, 2021
I’m writing down this petition to assert my anguish over the recent motorcycle driving ban in Kaduna state.It is awful; the State Govt has not followed the constitutional procedure to decide, which appears to be democracy abuse.
The government professed to have taken this drastic and unpopular action to reclaim peace and security within our loved state. At this juncture, I support any legal and helpful effort to bring back peace in Kaduna state.
However, is Kaduna town a criminal den to the bandit’s attack? The answer is clear. The municipality is not by any percentage facing constant attacks. Why then are we involved?I’m personally staying in Kakuri Makera Kaduna. As a paralytic person, I cannot move without the use of a motorcycle. It is the only means of me going around to pursue my day-to-day activities in life. Now, how do I begin again while I don’t have any other means but the latter?
To this end, as a Kaduna state indigene, I’m vehemently not supporting the ban on motorcycle rides, at least in the Kaduna metropolis.
First, the Kaduna state government should immediately permit riding on motorcycles within Kaduna town and other localities under incessant bandits raids.
However, if the state authority ceases to adhere to this call, I don’t have any alternative but to orchestrate a one-person protest asking the government to provide vehicles for me and others in similar difficulties to go about our various legal businesses.
Again, I will indict the state government before an appropriate court to request its statute to force the Kaduna state government to discontinue the ban on motorcycle rides within Kaduna and other relatively safe areas.
Cc:
Kaduna State Legislative.
Labour Kaduna Branch.
NUJ Kaduna Branch
Kaduna State Police Command.
Human Rights Commission.
Amnesty International.
