Ibadan: Motorists, residents clash over street party

IT was drama and exchange of abuses on Sunday as commuters and road users berated residents over converting a street to party venue. The incident which happened at a street at Omoleye, Orita-Challenge, Ibadan, Oyo State, drew the attention of passersby who also condemned the act of the residents for blocking roads in order to hold a party thereby causing diversion of traffic.Mr Femi Olaniyan, who said he was returning from church with members of his family fumed with anger as he was told to take another route because the road had been blocked for a party celebration.'There should have been a sign, some kilometres to this place indicating that the road is blocked because of a function, now after driving all the way down, you expect me to make a u-turn' That is impossible, I know my right and come what may, I must pass this route,' he stated angrily. His wife got down from the car and started removing the chairs to the surprise of people around who were short of words.A passers-by who didn't want his name in print said, 'it is probably they don't have a compound or can't afford to rent a hall, but, they shouldn't inconvenient road users either.' Another passers-by said, 'these people are notorious for holding parties on this street, today, naming ceremony, tomorrow birthday party, next tomorrow get together party. It is a good thing to merry and celebrate but doing that at the expense of other people's inconveniencies is unacceptable. Not only here but also in other places. There was one that happened at a major road on Ososami, not only was the road closed for the big party, which I learnt was a burial of a prominent resident in the area, they also burned a cow on the road. I was shocked at the free will of lawlessness these people were engaging on because if it were in Lagos, it would have been a punishable offence.
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