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The Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday called on the state government to evacuate beggars and destitutes from the Mokola flyover area and also address the constant traffic congestion occurring on and under the bridge.
The Assembly made the call at plenary through a motion raised by Hon. Wunmi Oladeji representing Ogbomosho North State Constituency. The motion wanted the house to address the flagrant abuse of traffic laws on Mokola flyover and the increasing population of destitutes around the bridge, noting that the menace should be addressed in order to ensure “adherence to traffic laws, security, peace, and tranquility” in the state.
Hon. Oladeji while addressing journalists after plenary stated that the motion had been deliberated on extensively during the eighth Assembly without anything to show for it, adding that that was why she presented the motion again.
“The bridge which was well organised and decorated with flowers when it was commissioned and is supposed to serve an aesthetic purpose has been turned to abode of destitute, thieves and snatchers who should be gotten rid off as soon as possible” she said.
Oladeji further explained that reckless and impatient drivers disobey traffic laws with impunity by turning at the end of the bridge rather than using the designated points.
Earlier, during deliberation at plenary, Hon. Seyi Adisa representing Afijio State Constituency suggested that the government should create a rehabilitation centre to rehabilitate the destitutes for a period and empower them before releasing them from the home.
He also suggested that government should put traffic lights on Mokola flyover to ease vehicular movement and reduce traffic congestion which always occurs on the route.
The Majority Leader of the House and the honourable representing Ona Ara State Constituency, Hon. Onaolapo Sanjo while contributing to the motion, said it is an embarrassment for Oyo State to have a high percentage of beggars and destititutes despite having the option to trade. He said because there is no law that will punish them, they prefer begging to learning a trade.
“We should look for means to evacuate them back to where they came from; evacuating and controlling these beggars will add beautification and value to our environment,” he added.
The speaker of the House, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin while contributing to the motion said the Assembly will use the first six months of its tenure to consult with security and law enforcement agencies to find a proper solution to the issue, adding that the following six months would be used to take action.
“If people are going to evaluate our government at the end of four years, It would be much better than what we met.
“People voted us in for a better life and we won’t let them down by putting in the action as our government is an action driven one,” the speaker said.