Jubilation in Anambra as Drivers Welfare Inaugurates New elected Exco
By Oge Onyeanusi, Onitsha
The Anambra state Drivers Welfare Association, (DWA) weekend elected a new executive to pilot its affairs for the next for years with Chief Adindu Opara as chairman.
Others elected at the election held at Rojenny stadium Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra state, were, Nwabueze Nwaneke-vice chairman, Awuke Bright-secretary, Anyadibe Kenneth-financial secretary, Chigozie Okolo-PRO and Chima Anthony Chinagorom-provost.
In his post election speech, the elected chairman said, “I have been in the line for 15 to16 years. I have stayed while people ruled zone by zone, Anambra, Imo and Abia for eight years. I promise the drivers that by the grace of God I I will repair the nad portions of the roads .I promise to get a plot of land and build the Secretariat”
He vowed also to sustain the cordial relationship between the drivers and the police even as he commended the police for their protection during the election to ensure free, fair and credible election.
The chairman urged two other defeated candidattes, Chika Azunnanya and Obinna Nworah, to join him in moving the association forward pointing out that he weill remain loyal as an obedient servant.
Speaking, the immediate past chairman, Chief Obinna Okeke Anisiobi, said that, “the election was free, fair and credible”
“The new leadership led by Chief Adindu will also be re-elected for another four years after the first four years if he performs more and I urge for all hands to be on deck for the unity of the association”
The returning officer, Mr Ogbonna Chukwudi, expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the election and commended the drivers for the maturity they displayed during the election.
Jubilation in Anambra as Drivers Welfare Inaugurates New elected Exco
Earlier in his speech, Hon. Anthony Chukwuma Ogbu(a.k.a.Igwe for Boys), who was first President, former chairman/Secretary, stated that, “the incumbent chairman, Obinna Anisiobi’s tenure has come to an end. We plead to the government to lessen the price of fuel, oil, diesel and various tickets that include, Local Government tickets, loading and off loading, park management tickets, road maintenance tickets, as money drivers pay is too much”
“The Commissioner and Ministry of Transport should construct the roads, there are various tickets which the Drivers pay, they extort money from drivers and when we go to Government House to report they will say those exrorting us are fake agents.”
“The Government should help and tell us the one to pay to and the ones not to pay to in a bid to prevent paying to wrong hands”
“We will partner with road safety and security operatives in order to create revenues to build roads, the Government should look into different park managements”.
He condemned the multiple taxations imposed on drivers hinting that, “from Owerri to Onitsha is 11 tickets everyday, from Owerri municipal to Awommamma, they pay for tickets at Mgbidi, Orlu west, Ihiala, LGA, Ozubulu.
When the drivers enter Oba, they will pay for Idemili LG, and if they passe Oba, the will pay for Idemmili South, if the enter mgbuka,he Will pay for Idemmili North”
“When the driver climbs the flyover, he will pay for Onitaha North, if he goes to main marker, he will pay for Onitsha South, if he goes to upper iweka, he will pay for Ogbaru”.
He stressed the need to have a unified gogernment ticket rate to avoid the extortions and urged the government to intervene hinting that the association employs about 40 per cent of the Youths.
Also reacting, a stakeholder, comrade Peter Okala, said that, “we enter vehicles so that there will be welfare, thus criminalities should be under control”.
He recalled that, “we went to press conference with former commissioner of police, we thanked him for his help. My involvement is for the welfare of the chairman, he is a person that has the interest of the people at heart, he wants to make a sacrifice and not to run away with the property of the people”.
“I don’t associate with illegal people, self determination is the right of everyone in the country. No one should kill each other if we have a leader like Opara that acknowledges everyone as a human being”.
He urged the Leadership of the association to engage ministry of transport and government with a view to curtailing the money the drivers pay adding that it is too much.
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