By Leftist Osazee Edigin.
If there is one thing Edo people could relate with, as touching the effect of governance when the administration of Mr. Godwin Obaseki came on board, it is the sanity in major road intersections, reorganisation of traders and the elimination of street trading within the Benin metropolis that became the new order.
These daunting tasks were made possible by passionate young people under the Public Works Volunteers scheme coordinated by one Mukhtar Yusuf-Osagie.
Before now, it is hell going through market areas like Oba, Osa, New Benin and Ikpoba hill markets. The major roads were littered with street trading making it practically impossible for pedestrians and motorists to have thorough fare. Commercial bus drivers have field day as most of them turned the centre of the roads to their loading points without recourse to other road users. The level of traffic lawlessness then was alarming without feasible remedy on sight till the emergence of the PUWOV to the rescue.
As at today, sanity and orderliness have been enforced by these hardworking young men and women who faces the stubborn traders and drivers daily while they carry out the state's responsibility. At a point in retrospect, street traders who have turned the centre of the road to their shops would hurl insults on pedestrians and motorists with so much authority and impudence as they lay claim to where they display their wares. The rightful users of the road became the seemly trespassers. It is also important to note here that, govermment should build new markets hence population increment would have been part of the things responsible for street trading except otherwise beyond ones comprehension.
It's on record that some of the volunteers have suffered attacks both physical and 'spiritual' from very stubborn drivers and traders who prefer the status quo and would go any length in removing any obstacle. The environmental hazards that comes with the job is another thing to ponder on as the volunteers are by mandate made to be in the rain and sun to ensure full compliance to the new order.
I want to commend the passion and resilience put up by these army of volunteers for the good of Edo state and her people. Stories also abound of some unscrupulous elements within its ranks who sees the call to duty as an opportunity to extort violators. The coordinator of the scheme must put in place strategies to ensure that such persons are apprehended and shown the way out so as to serve as deterrent to others. The abuse of human rights and excessive use of force still exists with some overzealous volunteers.
Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) led by its former Coordinator General, Leftist Omobude Agho had partnered with PUWOV to train its personnel on the respect for human dignity and as they carry out the duty of enforcement. We hope such partnership will be rekindled for more robust and effective service delivery.
The state government should consider making the scheme full fledged civil service job that is pensionable alongside all the job security that comes with it. Their welfare and health insurance should be prioritize owing to the hazards they face daily in ensuring the public space is organized. It's not the monthly stipend that counts but the passion attached to the job that speaks of discernable results.
One can now drive through the intersections in major markets in Benin City without the fear of traffic gridlock as it was few years back when lawlessness was seen as the right thing.
***Leftist Osazee Edigin is a Benin based Activist and entrepreneur
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