Politicians in Ibadan and other parts of Oyo state have been described as unruly and reckless for their flagrant disregard of traffic rules. The Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) accused the political parties and their supporters of shameful conduct befitting a banana republic.

The agency, however, singled out Governor Seyi Makinde for good behaviour.

In a statement on Wednesday, OYRTMA chair Akin Fagbemi said, “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.”

He claimed that some political parties “have been observed to flagrantly disregard functional traffic lights during movement as if the state operates in a banana republic.”

He stated that the government was committed to all actions that would protect the life and property of people.

“Whereas the sitting governor himself always obeys the traffic lights despite his robust security attaché,” noted Mr Fagbemi. “This is unacceptable, and any vehicle of any political parties caught in the harmful and shameful act will not only be impounded but prosecuted in the state’s mobile courts.”

The OYRTMA chair said the agency would inaugurate a special monitoring squad to monitor and mitigate the effects of political activities on the free flow of vehicular movement across the state as electioneering hots up.

Mr Fagbemi warned political parties to obtain relevant permits before any gathering that could impede the free flow of human and vehicular movement in the state.

(NAN)