On Monday, thousands of tricycle riders in Enugu State gathered in a massive show of support for Governor Peter Mbah, endorsing his reelection bid in a display of growing grassroots momentum.
Operators, popularly known as Keke riders, rode their tricycles decorated with stickers and images of Governor Mbah from Abakpa to Okpara Square, Emene to Okpara Square, Agbani Road to Okpara Square, Ogui Road to Okpara Square, New Haven and through Nkpokiti, Ebeano Tunnel, Holy Ghost, Ziks Avenue, Timber Shade, UNEC Gate, IMT Gate and others.
The Chairman of the association, Comrade Kingsley Edeh, told newsmen that the Mbah administration had provided an enabling environment, like security and good roads, which had greatly impacted on their spending on the maintenance of their tricycles.
“The governor is a good-hearted man. He embraced everyone and gave everyone an enabling environment for our people to do business in the state.
We have seen that the money that we pay, the money that we pay is going somewhere. We observed the developmental strides of the governor and said we want to organise a big solidarity and endorsement rally for Governor Mbah as the man we want in 2027, he said.
“We are endorsing him for 2027 so he will keep doing a good job as governor. We don’t want anybody else.
“Politicians lie a lot about what they didn’t do. But his own is ‘e dey play, e dey show’
“Just look at the roads he is building all over the place. We used to go to the mechanics every week and blow our earnings on bad roads before now. But today, we are seeing dividends of democracy. At least, no one can deny the fact that no other governor comes close to what our governor has done in less than three years.
“Again, with the 260 Smart Schools and 260 Type 2 Health Centres in all the wards, we will have more disposable income because the Smart Schools are free of charge. They even provide you free food and uniforms. Our children will soon be as learned as the children of America and Europe.
See also International Conference Centre. “We have people coming from Abuja, Lagos, Kano, all over Nigeria and even outside Nigeria once in a while for big conferences and we make a lot of money,” he said.
The group equally condemned the claims of over-taxation in Enugu, commending Mbah for phasing out cash payments in revenue collection, which they said created corruption, confusion and union crises in the past.
We no longer have chaotic revenue collection. We pay by the Internet. No more thug stuff. If you bring paper to collect any form of revenue, we resist it because we know it is no longer business as usual. So we now have peace, accountability, no more factions and fighting in the system because of revenue.
“It is also a lie that the governor is overtaxing Keke riders. It is utter lies. ‘We are paying the minimum money required from us and we are happy with the way the governor is utilising it to do our roads and other projects.
“Actually, the people that were collecting cash before Mbah came and doing all manner of sharp practices are the ones spinning the falsehood because they are not happy,” Edeh said.
They insisted the governor should do his second tenure “like it or not.”
“We will vote massively for him. As you could see, we are resolute. We are going to put the governor there, anyhow they want it. Even if he wants to run back to his business in Lagos, we will push him back into that seat to finish his term,” he vowed.43
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