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| Gov. Buni during an address to the KEKE NAPEP operator at WAWA HALL today. |
Yobe State Governor Alhaji Mai
Mala Buni has explained why he summoned a meeting with the leadership and some
select members of tricycle riders in Damaturu today.
Gov. Buni who was away from the
state when the tricycle riders otherwise known as KEKE NAPEP took the streets last Wednesday protesting over what
they allege as police brutality and extortion from their members vandalized traffic
lights and disrupted movement at the central roundabout for several hours
before they were dispersed.
On return to Damaturu however,
Gov. Buni has immediately called for a meeting between himself and the tricycle
riders where both parties have agreed to sheath their swords.
Gov. Buni while briefing the
press after the meeting explained that, the meeting was very crucial because, “Yobe cannot afford to have another round of
insecurity in any form and we have to nip it from the bud whenever such an
incident tries to rear its ugly head”.
The governor also expressed happiness
that the out of the meeting is very positives as according to him, “we are glad
and I am particularly satisfied because we have understood ourselves and
forgiven one another. You can see that both parties are happy because the
outcome is positive,” Gov. Buni said.
The governor also promised that
he will discuss with security agencies to see the possibility of increasing the
curfew time for the NAPEP operators in the metropolis as requested by the state
Chairman of the association.
He also directed the Secretary to
the State Government to provide an 18 seater bus for the association for enhance
their operations in the state.
Earlier, the chairman of the
Association, Umaru Barau had tendered an un-reserved apology to the state
government over the action of his members and also begged for forgiveness for
the state government.
According to Alhaji Barau, the police and Road
Safety have given them ample time of up to one year to register their tricycle
but wondered why some people are yet to register.
He promised that his leadership will continue to
liaise with the police and members to ensure a harmonious co-existence in the
state.
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| A cross section of KEKE NAPEP operators at WAWA HALL. |
His words: “ What happened on that day is just a small issue that we did not understand each
other. It is all about registration of plate number. As the chairman of the
Association do I have the powers to stop any of my members from registering
their machine with the state government, I don’t have that powers.
“We have told them that all of them should go and
register with the state government and collect their plate number. This is the
only reason that has brought about this situation in the town today. Both the
CP and the road safety have told us this as leaders and we have called all our
members and inform them about this development.
“The police and the Road safety have given us a
notice that has expired more than one. I have go in and out of the police about
this issue for more than ten times.
“As I leader, I do not condone what the boys did
by going about burning and vandalizing things and blocking roads in Damaturu.
What they did is wrong and we condemn this act in its entirety. We don’t
support this kind of attitude. If we must complain, then we have to follow due
process instead of going this path. I want to ask the state government to
forgive us for what happened,” the Chairman said.
He also requested for the addition of time for
their operation and mobility for their association.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Gov. Idi
Barde Gubana, the SSG, Baba Malam Wali, the HoS, Suv. Maraya and all security chiefs in the state among others.
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