Osun State Government and security agencies have been urged to intervene over the dispute on the public park operated by the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Iree Branch to prevent breakdown of law and order in the town.
The call was made on Saturday by members of the association, following a disagreement on the ownership of the public park around the Saw Mill area of Iree, Osun State.
The drivers’ union accused the chairman of Boripe North Local Government Area, Jamiu Adedokun, of forcing its members out of the land allocated to it during the administration of ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, adding that tension was already brewing over the matter.
Also, the Union said it has approached an Ikirun High Court in a suit number HIK/15/23, seeking end to the plan to eject its members from the park, adding that the matter was adjourned till October 30, 2023.
Speaking on behalf of the Union, the chairman of the park, Sunday Adeosun, said petitions have been written to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police and Osun State Commissioner of Police on the issue, lamenting that no concrete action was however taken on its complaints.
While waiting for the adjourned court date, Adeosun said “The space located at Saw Mill Area, Along Ikirun Road, Iree was allocated to the Road Transporters Association by the APC government under Aregbesola’s administration.
“The new PDP government under the Chairmanship of Hon. Adedokun Jamiu, Chairman of Boripe North Local Development Area, has commenced steps to forcefully eject the Association on what the Union viewed as a political colouration. The matter is pending before the court.
“It was surprising when Adedokun accompanied by his aids stormed our park a few days ago and insisted that the Union must leave notwithstanding the pendency of the suit in court. But the Union hurriedly did a petition to the AIG, Government, SSS, Commissioner of Police to forestall breakdown of law and order in Iree. Tension is rising presently over the matter. Urgent intervention of the security agents and government is needed to prevent breakdown of law and order.”
But when contacted, Adedokun said the land in question belongs to the local government, but was given to the driver’s union to use temporarily.
Adedokun during an interview with our correspondence further said, the land was given to them by the Local government for temporary use, adding that they had been informed long ago that government wanted to use the land.
“They took the local government to court. But since I became chairman of the Council Area, I have not received any paper indicating that there was a pending case on the issue. You can ask them to produce the document that cede the ownership of the land to them. DPO of my Area also called that some people brought a petition against me and I told them I am away on seminar. I promise to attend to the petition immediately I return home, ” Adedokun said.
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