In what many political watchers have applauded as a positive move for an orderly society, the Oyo State Government over the weekend, promulgated a law that establishes the state’s Rule of Law Enforcement Authority.
Governor Seyi Makinde who signed the bill into a law at a small ceremony held at his office on Friday, said the new law will particularly take care of the environment and traffic in the state.
Makinde urged residents of the state to cooperate with the government so they can have an Oyo State of their dreams, while adding that the bill was presented to the House of Assembly in order to bridge the gap in the enforcement of extant laws on traffic management, environmental sanitation and other issues.
His words: “I have just signed into law the bill passed by the House for the establishment of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority. We went through quite a bit with the House. They wanted to know why we need a special authority to enforce the rule of law in the state.
“Well, we have been here for over four years and we have seen that we do have adequate laws to deal with, in the aspect of protecting the environment, traffic laws, and road transport management authority.
“We also signed the anti-open grazing law but some of these we have not been able to enforce, maybe because we have not had full cooperation from the law enforcement agencies. But we have to keep striving for the kind of state that we are all comfortable with and we have been dreaming about.
“So, this is the basis for sending the executive bill to the State Assembly.
“I have had to deal with people driving against traffic, leading to maiming, even death. We have had several instances of deaths. We have had to deal with street trading. People have also turned the median of our road to dumpsites.
“That is why with the signing of this law, we will put everything in place to give a bite to the people that will run this authority. On that note, I will announce the appointment of a chairperson for this authority, Justice A.A. Aderemi.”
The law-signing ceremony was witnessed by the deputy governor, Bayo Lawal; Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo; Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Onio; and the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Muhammed Abiodun Fadeyi among other top government functionaries.