By Adebayo Sobande
The Traffic light around The university of Ibadan just started function in the recent time. The activities of Oyo state ‘O’ Yes around the the prestigious University First gate, especially in the morning time call global attention.
Today, 24th June, 2025. I rushed out to drop my son in school as part of my daily itinerary. He was to be in his class by 7:00am. From Bodija to his UI International school Ibadan (ISI). We left home late anyway, by 7:05 am.
When we arrived UI gate facing Ojoo, the numbers of “O” YES, Oyo state Traffic police (equivalent of Lagos LASMA) on ground were over fifty. The heavy presence of Uniformed personels on its own is enough for any foolish driver to be cautious, about due regards for traffic light rules compliance in the area.
The new construction of the roads around UI first gate has necessitated that one can not turn direct into UI first gate anymore. So what we now do is to go and turn all the way before the Mobil filling station some 100 meters away. In all the reconstructions of the roads, traffic lights poles are in every turning. These also include pedestrian crossing light and Zebra crossing marks.
Good enough I was ahead of others and the first to turn back toward UI first gate. However, the traffic light started flashing get-ready-to-stop-light which I readily obeyed. Others queued behind me. We waited patiently for the number to zero down for us to move on green. There was a corolla that turned behind me to be part of the queue but did not align perfectly well. This did not upset any traffic flow anyway but I decided not to move beyond the line where I was in order not to contravene any traffic order.
As soon as the light gave the green, I moved and others follow. It was not until we got near the turning to UI first gate that not less than ten Armies of O yes police waved me down. I was advised to park properly and the battle started.
It was alleged that I moved before the green light. Even though I insisted that I did not. The officers maintained that I should wait for the video of how it happened. We were held up for over 30 minutes. However, I did not hesitate to ask my son to get down, find his way to school.
When the video came eventually, to me It was obvious that it was not my car that was in the picture, the picture was not clear and the officer was not even bold enough to let me view it. I had to be asked to go to the next officer in rank. With another over 30 minutes of arguments, I moved to another boss who was now apologizing that it was an error. No wonder the people that were delayed, at that point in time, were over thirty in number. All were made to form a mammoth crowd including the unlookers, in front of the reputable, prem who was introduced later was now so rude because he had to tell me no technology is perfect, what eier University.
I was really furious at this point because I was delayed over this matter for close to 2 hours. The final Boss in mufti who was introduced later was now so rude because he had to tell me no technology is perfect, what else do I expect from them that they have to start applying the rules anyhow from somewhere.
Where are we starting from?
From being rude to citizens, even Senior citizens? Are we starting from delaying people and wasting their daily man-hour? Creating scene in your location with crowd of people following you up and down?
What technology did they apply?
The Governor said sometimes ago in one his speeches that there will be CCTV camera all over where there is traffic light. Is this the starting point of the era of putting this in place? For now what we have is somebody capturing any suspected vehicle in personal phone videos and calling someone a few distance away to arrest such suspected vehicle. Like the experience narrated above, this is subject to blatant errors and will delay innocent citizen going on their daily assignments. I believe this is obvious to the Leader of the Team who made a remark that no technology is without glitches.
I want to use this medium to call on authorities responsible for the supervision of ‘O’Yes Traffic police to call them to order by making sure they perfect their means of apprehending people. He method must be free and fair without rancour. The rule must not create scenes around a public Institution of the international stature like the University of Ibadan and disturbing visitors and workers around the place. You will agree with me that the Traffic light policing system are better used in other climes and these may not present our pacesetter state to the world in good light.
Adebayo Sobande, a concerned senior citizen writes this piece from Ibadan, Oyo State Capital
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