By Bukola Olamona

 Commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders yesterday embarked a Road Show across Akure, the Ondo State capital, to express their unflinching support for the State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

The cyclists, who trooped out in their hundreds, also warned against any attempt to disrupt the existing peace under Akeredolu led administration in the state.

Speaking with The Hope shortly after terminating the Road Show at the Governor’s Office, some of the commercial motorcyclists, including

Atabiakin Wale, Babatunde Afo and Tunji Sunday, explained that Governor Akeredolu has been a good father to them and that they have greatly benefitted from his leadership quality since he assumed office.

They said they would not support any secret plan to forcefully or illegal hijack power from the duly elected governor, whom they called “Mr Talk and Do”.

Addressing the cyclists, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties and Strategy, Dr Doyin Odebowale, thanked them for their show of love, saying Governor Akeredolu will not do anything that will affect their means of livelihood.

Odebowale explained that certain news went round on Monday that on Tuesday somebody would be declared as Acting Governor of the state, saying the news was not true at all.

He said the present administration will continue to maintain good working relationship with the commercial motorcyclists to sustain the existing peace and development of the state.

“They were going out to protest because they love Aketi, that’s the truth, and they wouldn’t want anything that would disrupt what they have been enjoying in the last seven years. When they reached out to us we sent our men out, that look, there will be no need for us to disrupt the peace, there is no need at all.

“The government is one. We have a government, Aketi is the Governor of Ondo State. We have Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the Deputy Governor as of today, and we have other structures still intact. So, there should be no need for them to panic. They have heard a lot of stories. So, I called them to the Governor’s Office to address them so that it would not send a wrong signal. They are for peace and they love Aketi.

“And I have told them that Aketi is the Governor of Ondo State and Aketi is the one in charge, and I work for Aketi”, Odebowale, added.