The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has visited the scene of yesterday mayhem where a phone shop owner, Abdulrahman Azeez, was stabbed to death.
Fight broke out between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) who were reintegrated into the state transport system under the name Oyo State Park Management System (PMS) under the leadership of Mr. Mukaila Lamidi (better known as Auxiliary) and shop owners at a popular shopping complex at Iwo Road.
The shop owners protested that the spot being used by the PMS men obstructed their business and asked them to relocate.
The PMS men resisted this and a fracas ensued during with the son of the owner of the complex, Rahman Azeez, was allegedly stabbed by the rampaging PMS men. Azeez was making plans to travel to the United States to see his twins when the incident happened.
Visiting the scene today, the governor of the state promised to bring the perpetrators of the act to justice.
He said: “I visited the scene of the Iwo Road incident this morning. The loss of lives during the mayhem that occurred is unfortunate and should never have happened. I give you my word that we will ensure that everyone involved in the dastardly act is brought to book.
“I have ordered investigations. In the meantime, we will sanitise the area behind Iwo Road where cultists congregate and review the Park Management System. We have also informed the phone sellers to choose representatives who will discuss how we can assist them.”
Meanwhile, many residents believe bringing the NURTW men back into reckoning can only lead to situations as happened yesterday. They argued that Ibadan had enjoyed relative peace after the immediate past governor stripped the union of any power to administer parks in the city.
They argued that the reintegration of the under PMS can only spell more doom for the city.
In a viral video online, a man was heard insisting that Auxiliary was physically present yesterday when the fight broke out. This however could not be independently confirmed at the time of writing this report.
A resident identified as Priceless Gold on Twitter said: “@seyiamakinde made a mistake in giving power to the union… They have been silent during the previous administration and it should have stayed like that…
“Appointing auxiliary as the park manager is the worst mistake Seyi made in his administration…..
“This so called NURTW will destroy all his good work…”
