Tension in Ado-Ekiti as Okada Riders Revolt Against Union Leaders

There was pandemonium on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, when some commercial motorcyclists (okada riders) staged a protest against leaders of their association.

The aggrieved riders who barricaded some streets and major junctions in the town called for the removal of the current union executives for alleged corruption, high-handedness, abuse of power, attack on colleagues and misappropriation of funds.

Speaking with our Correspondent, the riders urged Governor Biodun Oyebanji to sack the executives and take over the runnings of the sector.

They alleged that the association charged them heavily for tickets, yet mismanaged the funds, adding that the executives recruited some miscreants who are in the habit of assaulting and beating drivers up.

They alleged that a commercial motorcyclist, who was carrying a passenger, was pushed while on motion by one of the miscreants, they fell off the bike and sustained serious injuries.

The protesting okada riders were later dispersed by a team of armed policemen.

Some leaders of the association were seen at the Ijigbo roundabout where they were hiding from possible attack, but they declined to comment on the development.