Makinde Orders Immediate Reopening Of Shasha Market

….Shuts Iroko market, considers palliatives for
traders

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has ordered the immediate
reopening of Shasha market.

This is as the Governor also orders the immediate closure of the
market annex which was established in Iroko while the Shasha crises
broke out.

The Governor also said he awaits assurance and advise from the
security agencies enforcing curfew in the market before he would
lift the curfew.

The decision is coming barely two weeks after the market was
shut down due to crisis between traders that led to the loss of
lives and property in the Akinyele local government area of the
state.

The Iroko market has being fingered by the Shasha traders to
have being established by suspected individuals who are fuelling
the Shasha market crisis in order to create a competition for the
Shasha market.

Makinde who earlier dropped the hint of the reopening also gave
the directive during a meeting with the leaders of the two warring
communities at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

According to the governor, the decision to reopen the market was
necessitated by the declining economic situation and the
peculiarities associated with the state, adding that he would
reopen the market for the traders to continue with their commercial
activities.

He said: “Considering the economic situation and the
peculiarities we have with us, I have heard what you said, and we
will immediately reopen the Shasha market. They will bring
bulldozer to the market today.

“When my brother Governors visited Seriki Shasha’s palace, while
we were working around, I realised that both the people I saw at
Seriki’s place and those I net at Baale’s place were not happy
because they have been deprived of doing their job.

“If you look at Oyo State, even when the COVID-19 was at its
peak, I decided not to shut our market places because I know and
also explained to the leadership of the country at the national
level that in our state, we have people that the proceeds from what
they get today will determine if they will eat tomorrow or not.

“Since peace more or less returned to the market and the
community, we have given the go ahead that the market should be
repeoned.”

“I have also given instructions for some palliative works to be
done. I have instructed that solar light be installed in the market
anytime of the day or night; we will see what is going on in the
market.”

“The situation in our environment, economic activities are
really very germane and basic. We have people out there, what they
will make today, is what will determine whether they will eat
tomorrow or not. And when you shut the place down, and people get
hungry and again angry, then you precipitate another set of issues.
So closing the market for an extended period of time, is actually
not sustainable.”

While ordering close down of the Iroko market, the governor
equally instructed relevant agencies to immediately restructure the
market and fix up solar light around the community to enhance
activities around the market, adding that government would consider
some of the affected traders for palliatives.

“The Iroko market will remain shut. From what we heard, the
promoters of that market were actually part of the people causing
confusion and causing problem at Shasha market. We will take a long
term view of Iroko market, but in the meantime, it remains shut”,
Makinde added.

Speaking on the existing curfew placed on the market, the
governor explained that: “You can see the CP and the DIG; they are
the ones maintaining the curfew. And if they tell me peace has
returned to the community, the curfew will also be lifted. But
security agencies will still dominate the area.”

The Deputy Inspector- General Police, (in charge of Southwest),
DIG David Falawiyo who was in the meeting with the state
Commissioner of Police in the state, Ngozi Onadeko, noted that the
police would continue to maintain surveillance and presence in the
market, while ensuring that peace and tranquility prevail.

Earlier, the Baale of Shasha, Akinade-Ajani and the Seriki of
Shasha, Haruna Maiyasin, in their separate remarks, unanimously
apologised on behalf of the traders and warring factions on the
ugly incident at the market and pledged to ensure peaceful
coexistence and brotherliness reign in the Shasha market
henceforth.

….Shuts Iroko market, considers palliatives for
traders

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has ordered the immediate
reopening of Shasha market.

This is as the Governor also orders the immediate closure of the
market annex which was established in Iroko while the Shasha crises
broke out.

The Governor also said he awaits assurance and advise from the
security agencies enforcing curfew in the market before he would
lift the curfew.

The decision is coming barely two weeks after the market was
shut down due to crisis between traders that led to the loss of
lives and property in the Akinyele local government area of the
state.

The Iroko market has being fingered by the Shasha traders to
have being established by suspected individuals who are fuelling
the Shasha market crisis in order to create a competition for the
Shasha market.

Makinde who earlier dropped the hint of the reopening also gave
the directive during a meeting with the leaders of the two warring
communities at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

According to the governor, the decision to reopen the market was
necessitated by the declining economic situation and the
peculiarities associated with the state, adding that he would
reopen the market for the traders to continue with their commercial
activities.

He said: “Considering the economic situation and the
peculiarities we have with us, I have heard what you said, and we
will immediately reopen the Shasha market. They will bring
bulldozer to the market today.

“When my brother Governors visited Seriki Shasha’s palace, while
we were working around, I realised that both the people I saw at
Seriki’s place and those I net at Baale’s place were not happy
because they have been deprived of doing their job.

“If you look at Oyo State, even when the COVID-19 was at its
peak, I decided not to shut our market places because I know and
also explained to the leadership of the country at the national
level that in our state, we have people that the proceeds from what
they get today will determine if they will eat tomorrow or not.

“Since peace more or less returned to the market and the
community, we have given the go ahead that the market should be
repeoned.”

“I have also given instructions for some palliative works to be
done. I have instructed that solar light be installed in the market
anytime of the day or night; we will see what is going on in the
market.”

“The situation in our environment, economic activities are
really very germane and basic. We have people out there, what they
will make today, is what will determine whether they will eat
tomorrow or not. And when you shut the place down, and people get
hungry and again angry, then you precipitate another set of issues.
So closing the market for an extended period of time, is actually
not sustainable.”

While ordering close down of the Iroko market, the governor
equally instructed relevant agencies to immediately restructure the
market and fix up solar light around the community to enhance
activities around the market, adding that government would consider
some of the affected traders for palliatives.

“The Iroko market will remain shut. From what we heard, the
promoters of that market were actually part of the people causing
confusion and causing problem at Shasha market. We will take a long
term view of Iroko market, but in the meantime, it remains shut”,
Makinde added.

Speaking on the existing curfew placed on the market, the
governor explained that: “You can see the CP and the DIG; they are
the ones maintaining the curfew. And if they tell me peace has
returned to the community, the curfew will also be lifted. But
security agencies will still dominate the area.”

The Deputy Inspector- General Police, (in charge of Southwest),
DIG David Falawiyo who was in the meeting with the state
Commissioner of Police in the state, Ngozi Onadeko, noted that the
police would continue to maintain surveillance and presence in the
market, while ensuring that peace and tranquility prevail.

Earlier, the Baale of Shasha, Akinade-Ajani and the Seriki of
Shasha, Haruna Maiyasin, in their separate remarks, unanimously
apologised on behalf of the traders and warring factions on the
ugly incident at the market and pledged to ensure peaceful
coexistence and brotherliness reign in the Shasha market
henceforth.