Anambra Keke Drivers Forum (AKDF) says Chukwuma Soludo’s administration has saved members of the forum from multiple taxes supported by previous governments in the state.

Osita Obi, convener of AKDF, disclosed this on Monday in Awka, where 15,000 tricycle operators across the state endorsed Mr Soludo for a second term in office.

“Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration has saved tricycle operators across Anambra from corrupt multiple taxation introduced by corrupt government officials in past administrations in the state.

“It will also interest us to know that more than half of these monies collected as taxes then ended up in private coffers, instead of remitting such to government.

“Before now, members paid over ₦10,000 and other levies as tax per month, but now they pay a minimum of ₦8,000 per month,” he said.

Mr Obi alleged that before the coming of Mr Soludo as governor of the state on March 17, 2022, the tricycle operators were extorted recklessly by government officials and their agents.

According to him, before Mr Soludo came on board, there was mindless extortion of money in the name of tax from Keke drivers in Anambra.

He explained that in the past, the tricycle operators paid taxes such as ATMC ₦4,600, emblem and bucket ₦7,800 and renewal of identity card ₦2,500 per annum, in addition to ₦60,000 registration for new tricycles.

“Right now these taxes have been reduced and harmonised to ₦8,000 per month.

“This is part of the reason tricycle operators are gathered here today to support Soludo for a second term in office,” he said.

Similarly, Ifeanyi Okafor, chairman of AKDF, who endorsed Mr Soludo for a second term, lauded the governor’s immense development in the state.

Mr Okafor assured the governor that the forum would not stop at endorsement but that the over 15,000 tricycle operators across the state would come out to vote in the November 8 governorship election.

According to him, Mr Soludo built the New Government House, New Government Lodge Alex Ekwueme Square, Fun-City and others.

He noted that Mr Soludo’s administration has improved the roads across the state by constructing new roads and rehabilitating existing ones.

Also, Yahaya Abdulkerim, a tricycle operator, also hailed Mr Soludo’s administration for improving security in the state.

According to him, Mr Soludo created “Operation Udogachi”, a security outfit to fight kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, youth restiveness and touting.

“Today our Keke drivers are safe on the roads and we can sleep with our two eyes closed at night,” he said.

The point of the meeting was the unveiling of the sticker to support Mr Soludo’s re-election.

(NAN)