– Governor Commissions N152m Theme Park
The Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has advised members of the state Trasnsport Union (NURTW) to shun entreaties from any political party that may want to use them for political violence in the coming election, stressing that such people should be advised to make use of their children instead.
The state Governor made the statement at the commissioning of a N152 million ultra-modern motor park along Ondo Road in Akure yesterday.
Lauding members of the union for their peaceful conduct, Governor Mimiko said “there is no gain saying the fact that NURTW is a critical sector of the society and that any investment on the union cannot be a waste as it is their right to enjoy dividends of democracy.”
Continuing, Mimiko said “ now that you have rebranded your union, you should resist all entreaties by self-serving politicians who might want to use you to cause mayhem during the coming governorship election, just tell them to go and use their children for such undemocratic purposes.
“Ondo State people have vowed that never again shall we witness election brigandage in this state. Ondo should not be a blood bath pool. People of the state are not bush rats that could be captured , our focus is one man one vote “ he said.
Imploring it on the transporters to maintain good driving culture, Governor Mimiko said People might not have realized that road accident is the highest cause of death in Nigeria adding that this has been proved by statistical research.
“So, until we start to do things in line with best global practices, we might continue to experience negativity as against positivity” the governor stated.
Mimiko further said since transportation is a basic ingredient for sustainable development, his administration is striving to ensure that similar projects are sited in other parts of the state.
“We have already put necessary machinery in motion for the replication of this project at the Benin/Owo motor park, Akure and in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Areas as provision has been made to that effect in the 2012 budget”.
Equally, the Governor mentioned that, we hope to achieve similar projects in major towns of the state.
Reiterating the ban on sale of alcohol at the park, the governor said the ultimate desire which of government is to preserve lives and avoidance of accidents on our roads through the culture of right mindedness.
“Our vision and mission is to repackage road transportation and re-brand its practitioners to meet international standards as we find it with other modes of transportation. I am proud of you because you have rebranded yourselves and your organization.” Mimiko said.
The Ultra modern motor park has four loading bays, arrival and departure lounge, industrial borehole, dedicated transformer amongst other facilities.
Also speaking at the commissioning, the National President of NURTW, Alhaji Usman Najim Yasin commended the initiative of the Mimiko administration for the modern motor park which he described as the first of its kind in Africa.
According to him, the facility will in no small measure upscale the standard of the road transportation not only in the state but become a benchmark for the profession in the African continent.