By Godwin Oghre

Sapele—No fewer than 300 motor mechanics, operating under the banner of Nigeria Auto Technical Association, Sapele Branch, Delta State, yesterday held a peaceful protest on major streets in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of the state.

Their demonstration was against what they described as “dehumanising administrative style of the Chairman of Sapele Local Government Area, Mr. Ejaife Odebala and the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Chief Monday Igbuya, to render us jobless and turn us into miscreants by forcefully and unlawfully sacking us from our workshops.”

Chairman of the protesting mechanics, Mr. Lugard Eko, led the protesters to the country home of the President General of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Chief Joseph Omene, to register their displeasure over alleged hard stance of the council chairman and the state lawmaker.

He said: “The council Chairman and the Majority Leader have directed one Ifeanyi, who is the immediate past chairman of the association, to lock up our workshops and secretariat for over a month with the intent to acquire the vast land, which is owned by the state government, on which our workshops and secretariat are situated.”

When contacted, the Majority Leader denied the allegation by the mechanics linking him to plot to acquire the land.

He said: “The land belongs to Delta Development Property Authority, an agency of the state government. They should find out what their problem is and let me be.”

The council chairman also denied the allegation of planning to acquire the land.

He said: “They (mechanics) have leadership problem. They should resolve it themselves and not link me to it.”

Meanwhile, the mechanics have vowed to continue the protest, saying “until the go-vernment officials direct the re-opening of our workshops and secretariat, we will not stop.”

Some of their placards read Government officials, leave us alone; Nobody should sack us from Sapele; Our workshops must be open now, among others.