-By Zik Gbemre
UDU ROAD CONGESTION: ANYONE AGAINST HON OYIBODE'S INTERVENTION DOES NOT MEAN WELL
What is Udu LGA Chairman in Delta state, Hon Vincent Oyibode's offence for clearing the induced congestion on Ubogo Market, Express Junction and Jigbale Market sections of the Udu Road?
Oyibode has lawfully done his job. Traders willful encroachment on the Udu Road at Ubogo Market, DSC Express Junction and Jigbale Market has become a lawlessness and unsafe culture in Udu LGA.
Everyday on these axes of the busy road, traders now have right of way, vehicles have become the trespassers and trading is done right in the heart of the road, resulting in untold hardship for road users.
A moving vehicle, if it loses control, could cause accidents in such crowded spots where traders deliberately put their wares and food stuff they are selling on the middle of the Udu Road.
The traders impunity further instigates indiscriminate parking of keke, taxes and private vehicles at these spots of the Udu Road, compounding the gridlocks on the road especially at traffic peak hours.
Cursing a man that is doing his legitimate duties to avoid unnecessary hold ups and danger for motorists, passengers, the traders themselves and buyers is the height of ignorance.
What Oyibode did was to clear the main road of human obstruction. The Udu Road is not Ubogo Market. The Jigbale Market is not Udu Road. Udu elites need to sensitise the traders that Oyibode is not against their trading and markets but he has a duty to ensure that traders should stay off the major Udu roads and not use their trading to infringe on the right of road users.
The people should understand that blocking Udu major roads for trading is bad and should stop. Those provocative words targeted at Oyibode for clearing Udu Road are uncalled for.
Ovwian Community, Ubogo Community and Egini Community leaders should enlighten their people on why it is morally wrong for their people to trade on the middle of Udu Road at Jigbale, DSC Express junction and Ubogo Markets.
Above all, Oyibode's job is not done if he wants to make the difference from the failures of his predecessors. He must not just do a one off show of and go to sleep and before you know, the traders are back to take over the road again.
Oyibode must sustain the momentum and apply sanctions against defaulters, including community who encourage these human obstructions on the road by extorting on the traders and giving them the freedom to misbehave on the road.
Zik Gbemre
October 12, 2024
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