The Sand Quarry Owners Association of Edo State who operate the boroughpits in Edo State have called on the Governor of the State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to call to order the Chairman of the Edo State Tipper Drivers Association, Mr. Osaro Aigbekhan, his hench man, Sunday Osayande(aka Super) and his exco members, whose activities are responsible for the high rate of sand and other quarry resources, due to the huge sums extorted in the value chain of Sand Quarry Services in Edo State.
In a statement in Benin City by Joseph Enaruna, the Chairman of the Sand Quarry Owners Association of Edo State, the body says it recognises Governor Okpebholo’s adherence to due process as they bring to the attention of the Governor the obnoxious and extortionist fees being collected by the Tipper Drivers Association from the Quarry Owners per tipper that patronises the Quarry Owners, which monies are paid to personal accounts and same siphoned.
The Sand Quarry Owners Association stated that Governor Okpebholo has stopped all illegal revenue collections in Edo State, stating that the Edo State Tippers Drivers Association, which is an association created for the welfare of its members is illegally operating as a purported regulator, illegal revenue collector and unapproved trade union.
According to the Sand Quarry Owners the fact that the illegality has existed due to the Tippers Drivers Association affiliation with the ousted PDP government, does not make same legal and the association called on the Governor to clean the Augean stable of the illegal activities of the Tippers Drivers Association.
The Sand Quarry Owners also stated that the Chairman of the Tipper Drivers and his cohorts have resorted to violence as a weapon of coercion, as they recently attacked some Executive Council members of the Sand Quarry Owners for questioning their illegal activities.
