“Aspire to decency. Practice civility toward one another. Admire and emulate ethical behavior wherever you find it.
Apply a rigid standard of morality to your lives, and if, periodically, you fail as you surely will adjust your lives, not the standards.”
Hats off to Ted Koppel, what an important quote.
Civility, simply stated, is the action of working together productively to reach a common goal, and with a positive, good result in mind.
Not to be confused with the importance of politeness, (I feel the two need to be “married”,) as some discussions would lead you to believe politeness leads to inactivity or disengaging for fear of offending.
Constructive civility provides healthy, robust, even passionate, engagement viewed through the lens of respect of differing views.
Yesterday was the first litmus test for officials of Park Management System, PMS under the leadership of Alhaji Wasiu Tomiwa Omolewa who is popularly known as Tommy.
Since the appointment of Tommy as the Chairman of Oyo PMS, Thursday November 16th, 2023 was the first governmental activity in which members of the Transport Stakeholders would be called to action and Tommy and his boys made Governor Seyi Makinde, Otunba Seye Famojuro and other top government functionaries proud.
1) As early 9am, Tommy led his boys to Iwo Road, venue of the day’s event (commissioning of ultramodern Mosque) built by Governor Seyi Makinde. Tommy ensured that all drivers, tricycle and motorcycle riders complied with traffic rules and regulations.
2) He ensured there was no illegal parking whatsoever around Iwo axis.
3) There was no harassment of innocent citizens by PMS boys which used to be the norm before his appointment
4) Did you spot any PMS boys or PMS groups wearing red caps?
5)Did you see PMS boys smoking weed and brandishing dangerous weapons?
6) Above all, their dressing yesterday symbolized the decency Otunba Seye Famojuro has been craving for.
Afolashade Abegunde writes from Iwo Road, Ibadan.