The recent turn of events in Imo State has shown that the residents of Owerri and its environs are in for serious hard times following the recent pronouncement by the state chief executive, Gov Rochas Okorocha that the state is in a financial need.
One of the sectors in the state that has started feeling the heat is the transport sector, where a government agency, Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) is giving motorists tough time, as motorists have cried out over the activities of the agency that range from harassment, intimidation to monetary extortions.
According to motorists, Okigwe road in Owerri has become their catchment area as they are positioned every 5-6 meters of the road, making sure that any motorist especially keke, buses, taxis and other small commercial vehicles are apprehended and made to part with huge sums of money or be dragged to their office where the victim’s car wild be impounded for days pending payment of certain fines.
Some of the motorists who spoke to our reporter stated that they are not against the agency doing their job of maintaining free flow of traffic but their worry is the height of harassment, intimidation and the huge financial extortion they undergo in the hands of the agency’s agents.
It will be recalled that this questionable character of ENTRACO agents was used against former Gov Ikedi Ohakim during the 2011 guber election and the incumbent governor, Rochas Okorocha, spoke against the agency’s agent’s activities.
However, in his first term as governor, he indirectly silenced the activities of ENTRACO which made motorists and keke operators back his second term bid and he was re-elected.
Mouths have started to wag on the re-introduction of the dreaded taskforce after his re-election even before the inauguration. According to Mr Osondu Onyeulo, a keke operator, Gov Okorocha thinks he is more intelligent that the rest of us in the state, he feels he has used us and it is time to dump us, okay, let us keep watching.” He said.
