Different transport union groups that had been at loggerheads for years in Oyo State, on Thursday, resolved to collaborate to reposition the state’s Park Management System (PMS) for the purpose of ensuring peace and sustainable development in the state.
Oyo State government had convened the town hall meeting to find ways of improving the operation of PMS with the aim of tweaking it to serve the people better.
The meeting came following the dissolution of the Disciplinary Committee of the PMS headed by Mr Mukaila Lamidi.
The meeting which was held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Agodi, Secretariat, Ibadan, had in attendance various stakeholders, including the factions of Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (Tokyo), Alhaji Abideen Ejiogbe, Olowo Geesi, Abass Amolese, Tirimisiyu Olowoposi and Alhaji Hamidu.
Associations represented at the event are, Heavy Duty Truck Owners and Drivers, Association of Commercial Motorcycle Riders of Nigeria (ACCOMMORAN) and Association of Tricycle Operators, among others.
In his welcome remark, Chairman of the occasion, Professor Duro Adeleke, urged the stakeholders to work together to ensure the success of the PMS.
He said, “We are here on account of the PMS in Oyo State. Your membership comprises various organisations. What we are advocating for is not to engage in violence. Try to ensure that you maintain the peace wherever you are operating. Don’t disrupt the peace and harmony in Oyo State and leave a good example for others to follow.”
The permanent secretaries from the Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Works and Transport and the Ministry of Local Government jointly charged the stakeholders to endeavour to speak in one voice, embrace the peace and work together to move the state forward.
They also emphasized the need to embrace dialogue whenever there is a misunderstanding among the stakeholders.
The Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams, who was represented by Mr Adejobi Akinade, stressed that the force would continue to do everything possible to ensure peace and security in the state.
“We have been employed to stabilise peace and order in the state and we will not allow any group or individual to cause chaos. Nobody is allowed to possess or go about with unauthorized weapons. Violence will not be tolerated. Nobody should order the killing of any other person.”
The leaders of the groups, who spoke in turns, appreciated the governor for creating such a platform to bring them together.
They hailed the governor for making such a harmonious move for the benefit of everyone involved in the system, vowing that after the constitution of a new system, they would work towards boosting the government’s internally generated revenue (IGR).
All the warring factions in the transport union later agreed to sheathe their sword and work together to make the PMS better.
They also assured that peace would be sustained in the state in line with the sustainable development plan of Omituntun 2.0.
At the end of the meeting, a communiqué, which detailed all the agreements, was read by the Director, Public Works and Transport, Mr Olatunde Olasunkanmi.