The Anambra State government is not planning to restrict the operations of commercial motorcycles in Nnewi. “There is no iota of truth in the rumour making the rounds that the government plans to ban `okada’, as commercial motorcycles are popularly called in Nigeria.

“The rumours are politically motivated,’’ C Don Adinuba, the commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, said this while addressing newsmen in Awka.

According to the commissioner the state government has always made it clear that Nnewi Town will not be affected when the restriction order on use of commercial motorcycles in Onitsha, the state commercial capital, and Awka, was made in the middle of last year.

Adinuba revealed that rumours of the ban were started by a couple of politically exposed persons participating in the ongoing general elections in the country.

He urged politicians to always tell their followers the truth rather than mislead them with all manner of propaganda.

The commissioner noted that only societies that treat facts as sacred develop rapidly while those run on false propaganda experience tremendous development challenges.

He explained that Anambra State had experienced unprecedented development in the last four years because of the government’s commitment to the truth and issues which benefit the people generally.

He stated: “Working for the common good should be an article of faith for political leaders rather than the private gains they make for the moment which will ultimately hurt society’’.

Adinuba remarked: “the state government recognises that the motorcycle business has a special place in Nnewi’s astronomical development in the last few decades.

“The state government is proud that Nnewi is the headquarters of the motorcycle business in Nigeria,” he said.

“For decades, almost every motorcycle imported into the country passed through Nnewi, even when there were practically no facilities like well tarred roads.

“How the Nnewi people, including non-indigenes, are able to perform this miracle with no government support is what researchers, scholars and students should study in higher institutions.

“Nnewi represents, to a large extent, the typical Igbo spirit, that is, the stubborn determination to succeed in spite of all odds.’’

Adinuba said: “Governor Willie Obiano has always admired the Nnewi people and their leaders for their ingenuity and urges other Nigerians to understudy their industry and great capacity for innovation as part of the process for Nigeria’s rapid economic transformation.’’