Seyi Makinde, Oyo governor, has ordered the reopening of
Shasha market in Ibadan, the state capital.
Makinde had ordered that the market be shut down and imposed
a curfew on its surrounding areas following an ethnic clash that resulted in
the loss of lives and properties.
The decision to reopen the market was reached during a
meeting with the two warring communities in Shasha. The meeting held at the
Western Hall, Secretariat, Ibadan, on Tuesday.
The governor said due to the economic situation, he would
reopen the market for the traders to continue their commercial activities.
He also said the state is considering palliative measures
for some of the affected traders.
“Considering the economic situation and the peculiarities we
have with us, I have heard what you said, and we will immediately reopen the
Sasa market. They will bring bulldozer to the market today,” he said.
“When my brother governors visited Seriki Sasa palace, while
we were working around, I realised that both the people I saw at Seriki’s place
and those I met 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 reopened.
“I have also given instructions for some palliative works to
be done. I have instructed that solar light be installed in the market so that
any time 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 that the market annex of Shasha, established
in Iroko during the crisis, be shut, the governor instructed relevant agencies
to immediately restructure the market and fix solar lights around the community
to enhance activities in the area.
“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 problems at Shasha market,” he said.
“We will take a
long-term view of Iroko market, but in the meantime, it remains shut.”
On the existing curfew placed on the market, the governor
said once he gets the go-ahead from the commissioner of police that peace has
returned to the community, the curfew will be lifted but security agencies will
still dominate the area.
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