By Adeyinka Adeniran
Traders, business owners at Alegongo Market, Akobo, Lagelu local government area, Ibadan were on Wednesday sent out of business as the shops and business outlets were pulled down.
The demolition, it was gathered was on the orders of the Council Chairman who had earlier served a seven day quit notice on the traders and shop owners. The ultimatum lapsed on Wednesday.
The demolition exercise, it was gathered held under the supervision of armed security operatives.The exercise which puts commercial and other related activities on hold saw many shop owners trying to save the little they could find from their belongings.
Corenews reports that, the traders had earlier on Tuesday, in protest, marched on the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi Secretariat, to solicit the help of Governor Seyi Makinde to impress on the management of the Lagelu local government area no to go ahead with the demolition notice.
The affected shop owners carried placards and banners arrived the Secretariat in the afternoon. They were full of pleas, urging Governor Makinde to intervene and avert their expulsion from the shops, which according to them may send them away from their means of livelihood.
The traders both male and female who were full of kind words and appreciation of the governor said his intervention seem the only grace that can save them and their businesses from been sent out of business.
The traders who said all their efforts to seek audience with the council chairman has been futile since the eviction notice was pasted on their shops about six days ago, adding that all issues having to do with the ownership of the about 700 shops have long been resolved with the community leaders who created the space for traders in the community.
Inscription in some of the placards reads, “Alegongo Market: Market traders are begging our dear governor to please have mercy on us”, “We the masses are begging you our father”, “We are begging, please come to our aid”, “Your Excellency, we are begging you, please don’t let them demolish our shops”, among others.
However, the local government authorities on Wednesday ignored the plea of the affected traders with the demolition of shops and business outlets.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the government had earlier given an ultimatum to the affected traders and business owners, which lapsed yesterday (Wednesday).
A resident in the area who simply identifies herself as Bimpe said the exact reasons for the demolitions exercise has not been made clear to the people.
“Honestly, we are worried about the fate of our businesses and livelihoods as this sudden demolition has caught us off guard.”
One of the leaders of the traders said, Mr Ajibola Keru said as much as they k ow that government has all the power to do whatever it deemed fit, the traders, who had letters of allocation to use the space for about 20years ago expect that the local government would have called them to a meeting before just deciding on the demolition.
He said the fear of the traders has always been that, as much as the government claim that the purpose of the demolition is to upgrade the market, the initial occupiers don’t end up as beneficiaries when the job is completed, going by experiences around.
Another affected shop owners, Bolaji Kolade queried, “Where do we source for money to rent or get another shop now? Even, if as claimed that the government is planning to renovate it, where do we get money to purchase such exorbitant prize from government? We are quite aware that the government was just using style to dislodge us.”
Another victim, Biola said, “This is a punishment, because this is where we are getting our daily bread. This is where we get money to send our children to schools and government has pulled it down. This is unfair, because if I tell you I don’t know the reasons behind this demolition, will you believe?”
Also speaking, a mother of two, Mrs Blessing Jacob, who secured a place in the market about three months ago said ejecting the traders at a time liike this will only add to their woes.
“I’m a makeup artist and I sell jewelry too. I’m a graduate, I have a master’s degree in mass communication. But the government is not even helping us to get jobs and we need to work for ourselves.
“I collected the shop around November. I’m a single mother of two. I collected the shop around November and they brought the notice that we should just vacate the place in seven days.
“We have tried to reach out to the local authorities. We tried our best. We held a series of meetings and it’s actually proven abortive. So that’s why we decided to come to the governor to help us, to please have mercy on us. The country is already hard. We don’t need to make it more harder for us.
“Please, please, the government of Oyo State, please consider us single mothers. There are many widows there. There are many women that they don’t have a husband. We are just struggling and striving hard for our children. Please, help us”
A government official, who did not want his name in print, said “The demolition exercise is for the benefits of the residents and business owners as local government authority is only trying to modernize the area.
“I am not authorized to speak to journalists. But one thing I know, it’s for the benefits of the masses. The local government wants to give it a facelift. I will only appeal to them to exercise patience with the government.”
