As government bans ‘Keke’ ticketing in the meantime BY GODWIN SAM

Prince Godwin Ntuk Udeh

There is an adage in Ibibio land which states that “Akpan minama nte aya-ana anwan ete, ete idoho annwan ino enye” literally meaning that “if the first son does not do as if  he wants to sleep with his stepmother, the father will not see the need to marry a wife for him”.  This adage applies directly to the situation that happened last week in Uyo, where tricycle operators in their quest to attract government’s attention to their plights, resorted to street protest, downing their tools for two days and stopping their counterparts from carrying out commercial activities in the state. 

 
The tricycle operators numbering hundreds took to the streets on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st of January, 2014, to protest the multiple ticketing they are forced to buy daily to be able to operate within the Uyo metropolis. Investigation by THE INK revealed that to operate within the Uyo Metropolis, the tricycle operators have to buy tickets of N250 from each of the four local government areas making up Uyo metropolis, which sometimes amounts to N1000 in a day. 

Curbing the menace of reckless driving BY PRISCILLA CHRISTOPHER

Perhaps the existence of human  rights, including the right to own properties and use them at will has resulted in the abuse of some privileges one of which includes the right to use the motorways. The advent of the motor car, no doubt created a craving in the minds of those who could afford it. Subsequently, the cost of acquiring a private car dwindled to an extremely affordable rate; making it a disposable commodity even among the middle class.

Sequel to this, those belonging to the wealthy class saw this competition as a race which must be won. Other brands of exorbitant cars started coming into view. The likes of SUV, Prado, Hummer and others became the ‘in-vogue’ object in the minds of the rich, particularly the politicians who acquired them to showcase their wealth. Then came the giving out of some of these cars to relatives, friends and others who with little or no knowledge of how to drive, receive the gifts from the ‘philanthropists’ with glee.