Commercial drivers in Choba, Rivers State, under the aegis of Urban Drivers Welfare Association (UDWA), have raised an alarm over what they described as looming crisis in the area.
They said it is orchestrated by some group of persons who have vowed to cause trouble in the union.
The drivers are, therefore, calling on the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Effiong Okon, and other security agencies in the state to wade into the matter to prevent it from snowballing.
The Chairman, Choba UDWA, Comrade Bestmam Chile, made this call while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, weekend.
Chile stated that the essence of the call was to draw the attention of the state Commissioner of Police, other relevant security agencies and stakeholders in the transport sector to call to order one Abel William, who is the Chairman, Rumuokwuta-Choba Taxi Drivers Association.
According to him, the said William is the one allegedly formenting problem in the area”, adding that Choba, as a student community, “does not need any form of crisis that would affect the students’ welfare in the area”.
He explained that rather than concentrate on his office as Chairman of Taxi drivers plying Rumuokwuta to Choba, Mr Williams has imposed himself as Chairman of bus drivers in the same area, when there are existing elected union officers for the bus drivers.
According to him, Williams went further to register new buses to operate in their route without there authorisation and consultations, adding that the self-acclaimed Chairman has never driven bus or operated as a driver in Choba, Mile 3 route.
“We operate as bus drivers that ply Choba to Mile 3, and we belong to Choba Urban Drivers welfare Association, and we have our union registered under Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
“We have been working with the taxi drivers who run from Rumuokwuta to Choba without any problem, but recently, one Mr. Abel Williams now left his jurisdiction, impersonating himself as bus driver as well.
“He registered mini bus drivers and asked them to operate in our own route without our approval. what we are saying is that he should concentrate on the taxi and allow us manage our bus, whether mini or big bus, bus is bus”, he stated.
Bestman further said Choba drivers are organised, as they regulate activities of members against theft and ensure that when passengers forget their luggages and personal effects inside vehicles belonging to members, they ensure that they are recovered and such items given back to owners.
According to him, the security consciousness applied by the union has earned their members thrust in the area, especially the students’ leadership, adding that any arrangement to register people the union have not profiled will not be accepted.
The Chairman warned that the union would resist any further interference and ensure that only buses registered and documented by the union’s leadership are allowed to operate in the Choba- Mile 3 route, saying that the union does not want any confrontation that will affect the existing peace currently enjoyed in the area.
“Althogh we have petitioned him to the Police, we are still seeing new buses still operating on our route. Several times they attack our task force team, but we held our peace, yet these people are provoking us and we would no longer keep quite.
“This press interview is to draw the attention of the security agencies and the entire public to hold Mr. Abel Williams responsibles for any possible breakdown of law and order in the area”, he warned.
When contacted on phone, Mr Williams said members of the Choba Drivers Welfare Association do not have the monopoly of roads in the state, and as such can not determined who should ply the Choba route as they are different unions.

By: Akujobi Amadi