We are stranded, treated like outcasts,” three tricyclists who rode from Lagos to Abuja in solidarity with President Tinubu cry out

Three members of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), who drove from Lagos to Abuja in solidarity with Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have cried out after being stranded due to their inability to see the president. 

The tricyclists, identified as Onanuga Babatunde, Akintade Temitope and Ahmed Bolaji, took off from Lagos on Monday, July 3 and arrived in Abuja on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, after spending 17 hours on the road.

Speaking with Newsmen on Tuesday, Babatunde, who’s the chairman of TOAN, Ajah branch, lamented how they had spent 10 days in Abuja without seeing the President or any of his aides.

He said the journey was also meant to mark President Tinubu’s 38th day in office on July 4, 2023, as well as to celebrate his successful inauguration.

He said they were stranded and could not return to Lagos after spending over N100,000 to fuel their two tricycles, SaharaReporters reports. 

He said the officials at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had not given them an audience. Adding that they were also prevented from gaining access to the party secretariat.

Onanuga said they were being treated like outcasts at the APC National Secretariat.

“I am the one that drove a tricycle from Lagos to Abuja to show solidarity with the President. We started the journey on Monday, July 3rd and we got to Abuja on July 4th. We are here to show solidarity with the President. When we were coming, we had challenges on the road but we thank God, we overcame them.

Since we arrived, we have been stranded. We have spent 10 days in Abuja. We have spent all our money on fuel and we don't have anything with us. We have been paying for hotel accommodation since we came to Abuja,” he said.