By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Tanker drivers, under the aegis of Anambra/Imo Tipper Drivers Association have threatened another round of protests over government’s refusal to obey court judgement.

The judgement had declared the collection of fees on laterite, stone and sand illegal.

The drivers who took to the Enugu-Onitsha expressway lamented the rising level of extortion, harassment of its members and the imposition of leadership by suspected officials of government.

Speaking on Friday in Onitsha during the meeting of the body, the National President of the body, Comrade Emmanuel Ezeokafor, regretted that harassment and extortions of his members had continued unabated even after the association agreed on N10m remittance to government coffers.

He had accused government of setting up kangaroo leadership structure made up of politicians to pave way for continued perpetuation of corruption in the system.

Ezeokafor said: “It’s no longer news that the tipper drivers association had gone to court and won; and we have the documents. But it’s highly regrettable that the extortion had continued despite the court order.

“We’ve even written to the DSS complaining about our plight but they feigned ignorance. But they will realise how serious we are the day we will block the highway again.

“We could have done another protest if not for the #EndSARS protests. We felt that if we come out, they would mistake us for hoodlums. But we will seize this opportunity of fighting illegality until our plight is addressed.”

He called on his members to embrace civility especially in their dealings with the task force.

Ezeokafor added, “Don’t try to run away when they are stopping you. Otherwise, you may knock down someone in the process.

“We’ll only support government activities that are legal. But forcing us to belong to where we don’t want to be will not be tolerated.”

Earlier in his speech, a human rights activist and Convener, Recover Nigeria Project, Osita Obi, informed the drivers that they had what it takes to hold the government to ransom, saying that though he supports government revenue drive, he will not back any that is obnoxious.

He said: “I support revenue drive, but not the one that’s obnoxious. The essence of revenue is for development, including road construction, so you’ll have where your vehicles can ply.

“Unfortunately, the roads are in terrible conditions because the money meant for the repairs is being diverted into individual pockets.

“One wonders how a contractor should be made a leader of tipper drivers association if not for them to be used to milk money from you.”

Obi enjoined the drivers to take advantage of the next governorship election in the state to vote out corrupt leadership, even as he called on those without voters’ card to strive to get one during the forthcoming voter registration exercise.

He reminded the drivers that the only way to hold government to ransom is through their votes insisting that they have what it takes to determine who becomes the next governor of Anambra State.

Update news