Guber Candidate Faults Scrapping Of Keke Daily Fee In Enugu

The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Enugu State, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, Sunday, described the scrapping of N750 daily ticket fee charged on Keke operators by the state government as “last minute political gestures”.

THE WHISTLER reported that the scrapping was announced by Gov Peter Mbah over the weekend when the operators drummed support for his reelection come 2027. The governor also extended the operations period of the operators from 9pm to 10pm. The government of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi imposed the restriction due to insecurity.

Ohaa, in a release signed by his media aide, Sampson Ukwu, stated that the ordeals passed through by Keke operators in the state would not be swept under the carpet.

He said, “We have not forgotten the long period of hardship faced by Keke drivers and other small business operators under this administration. We have not forgotten the earlier attempts to restrict Keke and minibuses from major roads in Enugu. We know the difference between consistent governance and last-minute political gestures. A government that remains silent when a Keke rider dies, then suddenly offers concessions during a political event, cannot expect the people to forget the past. These last-minute measures are dead on arrival. Enugu people are wiser now.”

Ohaa also claimed that Gov Mbah did not issue any statement to condemn the death of a Keke operator, one Friday Nwobodo, alleged to have died at Garriki in the hands of the state task force.

Quoting him, “After years of heavy daily tickets, task-force harassment, movement restrictions, and the painful death of Mr Friday Nwobodo from Umuatugbuoma, Akegbe-Ugwu, at the Gariki Terminal, till this moment, Governor Peter Mbah has issued no public statement on the death of Mr Friday Nwobodo and has not visited the bereaved family.”

He pledged that if elected governor, his administration would treat the welfare of Keke riders, transporters, and small business owners “as a priority, not as a political tool”, adding that “hardworking citizens will no longer face excessive daily levies or intimidation”.