BENIN CITY – Worried by the continuous traffic – Jam around the Oba Ovonranmwen Square in Benin City, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole yesterday impounded about 20 vehicles around the Oba Market for indiscriminately parking on the road side and hindering free flow of traffic.
Governor Oshiomhole who proceeded to Oba Ovonranmwen Square shortly after the State Executive meeting also expressed dismay at the unauthorized use of the walk-ways by street traders.
He therefore called on the chairman and members of the committee on Environment to brace up to their responsibility.
According to him, “just look at everywhere, there is no discipline on the road. Inspite of the arrangement for parking slot for commercial bus drivers, they have resorted to using the road: even private car service providers and the Traffic Policemen are there watching.
Addressing one of the Traffic Police Warder along Oba Market Road, Oshiomhole said, “you are here supervising crime. Look at all the vehicles parked by the road side hindering free-flow of traffic and you are there watching.
“If I find this happening again, I will write to Inspector – General of Police about your activities here,” he said.
Oshiomhole however warned the Division Police Officer incharge of Oba Market Division, Mr. Aigbe Aghahowa against the use of road side as parking slot for buses impounded by his men and officers in the division.
He said, “parking vehicles indiscriminately will distort state government urban renewal policy and beautification project” and therefore ordered the state Commissioner for Workers, Barr. Osarodion Ogie to immediately fix up some of the pot holes along the road as well as the projective barb wires on the road divide to protect the growing flowers planted on the road-divider.
Speaking with journalists on the crackdown by the Governors on drivers at the Oba Ovonranmwen Square, Mrs. Ogenakemi said, “I think the driver as well as the traders need orientation. I understand that government has given them place to park, but you know, Nigerians are not disciplined.
“If the drivers and every other persons are discipline, I think with the arrangement government has made, everybody should have been able to walk freely.
“My advice for government is that there should be strict monitoring of the drivers so that they can learn to park off the road for easy flow of traffic.”
In the same vein, a businessman Mr. Anthony said, “the Lord has sent the Comrade Governor on rescue mission to Edo State.
“The man is a good man, how can somebody be shading on the walk-ways? It is very bad, and so, I support the action he is talking now to bring sanity to the area. I Love him, God will bless him for us,” he said.
Governor Oshiomhole also stopped over at the popular Sapele road Motor Park where he directed those selling around the vicinity to vacate the area within 24 hours.
Gov. Adams Oshiomhole
