Skating: APC scribe, Basiru condemns jail term proposal by Osun Assembly

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The All Progressives Congress (APC), National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, and Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly Adewale Egbedun are at odds over the proposed law by the Osun State House of Assembly that would criminalize public skating.

The bill was criticized by Senator Basiru, who said it was superfluous and urged the Assembly to concentrate on more pressing legislative issues.

Basiru, an APC candidate for governor of Osun State, called the idea for a N250,000 fine or six months in jail for public skating “laughable” and a step backward in a statement released on Wednesday by his gubernatorial campaign organization.

“We are disturbed by the news of the proposal of punishment for open skating in Osun State. For us, it is coming when skating stars are being discovered in Nigeria.

“In Lagos State and neighbouring Oyo, people are investing in the sporting activities, and if Osun cannot tap in, it shouldn’t have come up with the punishment,” he said.

He chastised Adewale Egbedun, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, claiming that as a young man, he ought to have known better than to advocate for limits and instead encourage sports.

He demanded that the law be immediately withdrawn and that a new strategy be implemented that involves discussions with interested parties in the sports and skating sectors.

“Allowing such to sail through is not only backwardness for Osun but laughable. We should encourage discovery of talents,” he added.

Additionally, Basiru urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to step in and halt what it saw as a legislative error.

Speaker Adewale Egbedun, however, has supported the law, saying that its goal is to protect public safety rather than to discourage young people from participating in sports.

Egbedun stated in a statement signed by Olugbenga Akanfe, his legislative assistant, “The bill does not seek to ban skating outrightly. Rather, it aims to prohibit public skating, particularly on highways and busy roads.”

He emphasized that dangerous behaviors, including skaters clinging to moving cars, seriously endanger other road users as well as the skaters themselves.

“Tragically, in such instances, drivers may be held liable for incidents they did not cause and could not prevent,” he noted.

According to the Speaker, the absence of facilities specifically designed for skating is one of the primary reasons why skating is risky in the state.

He did reveal, though, that Governor Adeleke’s planned renovation of Osogbo City Stadium would contain a new skating arena.

He made analogies to Lagos State during the Fashola administration, when traffic laws prohibited skating on public highways.

“This development will provide a safe and structured environment for skating enthusiasts.

“If Lagos State, as far back as the Fashola era, recognised the dangers of unregulated skating on public roads, then the steps taken by the 8th Assembly of Osun State should be seen as commendable,” he said.

He restated that the bill’s objectives are to lower accident rates and encourage young people to participate in sports responsibly.

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