By Michael Nnebife
The Anambra State Joint Transporters’ Forum, has expressed satisfaction on the operations of the recently introduced Special Anti-touting Squad, SASA, by the Chukwuma Soludo Administration in its bid to stamp out touting in Anambra State.
The President of the forum, Pastor Elvis Okolie, made this known when the executive of the forum called on the Director, Operations, SASA, Mr Solomon Chukwuebuka Onwuemene, in his office in Awka recently.
The president, briefing the SASA director about the essence of the visit, said the forum had in the past called on Governor Soludo to help the transport workers in the state to stamp out touts in state.
Pst Okolie said, ‘The introduction of SASA in the state is our prayer answered as their impact within these few months speaks volumes.
‘We’re here to thank the governor for this giant step taken,’ he said, and expressed the total support of the forum to the special squad.
Okolie commended the governor for his achievement in infrastructural development going on across the state without borrowing and pledged the total support of the forum to Soludo’s second term bid.
He however appealed to the governor to lift the suspension of unions in the transport sector in the state, considering their political importance and relevance in a democratic setting.
Responding, the Director, Operations, SASA, Mr Onwuemene, commended the forum for the visit which he described as unexpected.
The director reminded the transporters that the introduction of the special squad was for their benefit and assured them of Governor Soludo’s unwavering resolve and determination to rid the state of touts and their unwholesome activities.
Mr Onwuemene further pledged that the squad was keen to fulfill the mandate of the governor of leaving no stone unturned without minding who was involved.
He said, ‘Getting the streets rid of the touts is for your benefit. This is because you’re the people that suffer it most. Imagine leaving your family in the morning to look for what they will eat, and returning with swollen eyes, and sometimes you lose your life to it.
‘When Mr Governor called, he said he didn’t want this to continue; and the Commissioner for Homeland Affairs said all this must stop so that you people would benefit from your fruits of labour.
‘The Special Adviser to Governor on Security Matters who even took it up himself, to make sure that all this stopped, mandated me to put a stop to it.
‘And that’s what I came to do. I’m not interested in the billions they’re offering me; I’m not interested in the dollars, pounds euros; whatever currency it may be, but what I’m interested in, is sanity and to ensure that I achieve my goal,’ the SASA boss said.
He further used the occasion to commend his principal, Governor Soludo, for unrelentingly keeping to his promise of providing a livable and prosperous homeland where both the citizens and non-citizens could engage in a legitimate work, enjoy and relax comfortably.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Security Matters, Sir Nelson Amaechi Chukwurah, advised the transport leaders to always guard against sabotage, urging them to key into the efforts of the government in ridding the state of touts.
On the visit were the Acting Chairman, Anambra State Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria, Mr Michael Onyekwuna; the Public Relations Officer, Urban Drivers’ Welfare, Anambra State, Mr Kingsley Adiele; the Chairman, Awka South Branch of Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria, Prince Collins Ozojiofor, among others.
