AGBERO TAKES OVER THE ROLES OF EDO STATE GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL
…agbero drags government official to police station over obstruction of activities
…local government council boys on the prowl
For those that have followed through my positions on Edo state government activities would agree that, I am not a critic of government but critique its activities in ensuring Edo people gets the benefits of democratic rule.
Without gainsaying, one of the things Governor Obaseki’s administration had done noticeably is the sanity and tranquility it brought to bear to public space by using state actors like EDSTMA, PUWOV and Edo State Transport Authority. That is not to be in recent time as Agberos under the auspices of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and their ally, Drivers’ Welfare (DW) have totally taken over the major roads in Benin city.
Their activities have disrupted the hitherto enjoyed easy passage by motorists in major road intersections and markets within Benin City. They have displaced government officials from their official bits who are saddled with such responsibilities. They are now in-charge of parking and loading locations for commercial buses which constitutes nuisance and inconveniences for other road users.
The gains in the area of organized public space are being eroded by the activities of these agberos to the extent that one of them dragged a state actor to a police station for obstructing their activities.
There are also activities of local government council boys with different type of uniforms harassing motorists in town. They jump in front of moving vehicles accusing them of one traffic offence or the other. If they are not doing that, they are accusing the driver of parking in an unauthorized location where such warning sign exist not, just to extort and cause pain to the citizen.
This is not what Governor Obaseki is known for. The peace, free flow of traffic and respect for citizens were the attributes he came with. These agberos were removed from our roads and citizens and motorists could feel the relief such action of government brought to bear. They are meant for the various parks and garages and not become managers of traffic and transportation in the state.
The rate of illegal ticketing by touts on Sachet water hawkers and petty traders around the city centre is a talk for another day.
With all these currently happening in Edo state, can we now conveniently say that Governor Obaseki is finishing well?
Source: Leftist Osazee Edigin AICMC
