By Okey Alozie
Physically challenged citizens of Imo State on Wednesday shutdown People’s House as the Imo State Government House, Owerri has been named, over alleged revenue collection and high vehicle branding charges perpetuated by Ministry of Transport led by the Commissioner, Hon Laz Okafornayanwu.
The disabled people, according to our reporter, stormed the Government House, in the early hours of Wednesday, and blocked the main entrance to inhibit movement of people and vehicles.
This action paralyzed government activities for the period they were there as the physically challenged group resolved not to leave the place until governor Okorocha comes out in person to address them. The aggrieved persons almost lynched the Transport Commissioner when he came out to talk to them on the issue.
Their placards showed some aggrieved write ups like Owelle give us a fair option, “we are exploited” and we need fair treatment.
Their spokesman, Chief Ukeje Ikechukwu revealed that the committee handling the branding of vehicles in Imo has allegedly extorted a lot of money from the physically challenged bus drivers. According to him, the so called committee collect N110,000 as fees for the branding of buses and give receipt covering only N20,000. He maintained that the remaining N90,000 is not accounted for. He also disclosed that 15 of their men (physically challenged) are now hospitalized as a result of the injury they sustained during the attack of the government task force few days ago.
Ukeje told our reporter that over 50 of the buses belonging to the physically challenged people have been seized by the government taskforce working for the ministry of transport.
The appealed to the governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the Chief of Staff Imo Government House, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu to come to their rescue before the taskforce men kill them.
The commissioner For Transport had earlier said there was no illegal charges collected by the committee.
He hinted that the purpose of the branding of the vehicle is to being sanity and reduce criminal activities in Imo. He revealed that with the Biometric number coupled with the branding Bus/TAXI Imo could tracked to anywhere if reported to be involved in criminal activities.
