The Bayelsa Development Initiative (BDI) on Saturday criticised Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa for the continuous ban on night operations by commercial tricycles in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The BDI, in a statement by its secretary, Michael Rodamini, said it was insensitive and unimaginable for the governor to have allowed a ban, which was supposed to have been a stop-gap measure, to last beyond one month.

Mr Rodamini said for Mr Diri to have feigned ignorance of the overall destructive impact of his ban on the general economy, especially on nightlife, was a confirmation of his lack of capacity and “cluelessness” in handling issues affecting the state.

“Banning Keke at night, providing no alternative and allowing such a ban to linger and pretending that all is well despite its negative effects on the people, especially in this rainy season, only emphasised the anti-people position of this government,” he said.

While condemning the incident that led to the ban, he said it should have since been lifted to ease the pains of the helpless masses, who did not have private vehicles to undertake their activities after 7: 00 p.m.

He said since tricycles had become the only popular means of transport in the state, especially for the masses, the ban had worsened the condition of the poor and made quick responses to emergencies difficult.

Mr Rodamini said for Mr Diri to have allowed the ban to linger even in the face of the ongoing inclement weather caused by the rainy season was a demonstration of his lack of care and concern for the common people of the state.

He observed that the ban had increased the insecurity in the state, especially given the pitch darkness that usually enveloped the state at night following dysfunctional streetlights across the entire capital city

“We are calling on Douye Diri to immediately lift the ban to ameliorate the plight of the masses,” he added.

The restriction on commercial tricycles operation from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. followed a dispute where a commercial tricycle operator stabbed his passenger to death on April 19, an act that provoked sympathisers to stone the tricyclist to death.

Mr Diri had said the restriction was a temporary measure to forestall the breakdown of law and order and assured that it would soon be relaxed.

(NAN)