OYRTMA Cautions Political Parties On Traffic Rules, Regulations

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – With heightening political activities ahead of this year’s general elections, the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) has warned political parties to obey extant road traffic rules and regulations as enshrined in the OYRTMA Law, 2009.

The Executive Chairman of OYRTMA, Akin Fagbemi Ph.D., who issued the warning in Ibadan on Thursday, said the State government would not shy away from its responsibilities of ensuring the safety and security of the Oyo people and residents.

By the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s timetable for the 2023 general elections, aside from the commencement of campaigns that flagged off on September 28, 2022, and will end on March 9, 2023, the dates for the Presidential/NASS election as well as Governorship/State Houses of Assembly elections are February 25, 2023, and March 11, 2023, respectively.

Fagbemi, who inaugurated a Special Squad headed by himself to monitor and mitigate the effects of political activities on the free flow of vehicular movement across the State, said the government is not ready to tolerate the activities of political organizations that outrightly endanger the lives and properties of the people

Speaking at the Administrative headquarters of the Authority in Secretariat at Agodi, the OYRTMA boss said; “It is a known fact that the Oyo State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde is irrevocably committed to the sustenance of law and order as well as the protection of lives and properties of the people of the State.

“However, recent activities of some political organizations have been observed to outrightly negate this commitment and thus endanger the lives and properties of the people. Therefore, issuing this Riot Act has become expedient more so that we have received myriads of public complaints pertaining to the flagrant disregard of extant road traffic laws of the State by political parties during rallies, campaigns, and other similar gatherings”.

According to Fagbemi; “Some political parties have been observed to flagrantly disregard functional traffic lights during movements as if the State operates in a banana republic whereas the Sitting Governor himself always obeys the traffic lights despite his robust security attache.

“This is unacceptable and any political party’s vehicle caught in the harmful and shameful act would not only be impounded but prosecuted in the State’s Mobile Courts and applicable punitive actions would be melted without recourse.

“Additionally, all political parties are hereby strongly warned to obtain relevant permits prior to any gathering that could impede the free flow of human and vehicular movement across any part of the State to avoid acting as clogs in the wheels of innocent commuters who are often helplessly stranded as a result of no fault of theirs.”

To demonstrate the government’s resolve at making the state safe and secure for all residents, Fagbemi warned that; “Political parties whose vehicles are caught driving against traffic will henceforth be treated as a criminal offence and an attempt to lynch innocent citizens going about their normal businesses”

The OYRTMA Chief Executive further cautioned thus; “These violations will attract serious sanctions as the Authority is ready to subject any Political Party found culpable to the full wrath of the law”.