Owode Onirin Market Traders Cry Out Over Demolition, Call on Governor Sanwo-Olu to Intervene

Owode Onirin Market Traders Cry Out Over Demolition, Call on Governor Sanwo-Olu to Intervene

The Owode Onirin Market Traders Association has called on Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other key stakeholders in Nigeria to urgently intervene and stop the ongoing demolition of their market by the Agboyi-Ketu Local Government.

The traders, who have been left devastated by the destruction of their shops and properties, are appealing to Governor Sanwo-Olu to rein in the Local Government Chairman, Mayor Dele Osinowo, whom they accuse of acting without considering the welfare of thousands of traders whose livelihoods depend on the market.

Reports indicate that the demolition exercise has left many traders in distress, with some being hospitalized due to shock and loss of their means of survival.

A Legacy Market Under Threat

According to Akinpelu Olalekan, a long-standing trader in the market since 1979, the Owode Onirin Market has been a crucial hub for spare parts dealers and other merchants for decades. He emphasized that traders in the market have been loyal supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), contributing significantly to the party’s electoral successes in Agboyi-Ketu and beyond.

Olalekan recalled that the dispute over the market began as far back as 2014, but traders have continued to fight for their right to operate in peace. He, alongside other stakeholders, is now calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a father figure to many in Lagos politics, to prevent the displacement of traders who have remained faithful to the party.

“This is where the majority of votes come from in Agboyi-Ketu,” Olalekan stressed. “We are pleading with our leaders not to turn their backs on us.”

Market Leaders Express Shock and Displeasure

Other prominent members of the market, including Elder Samuel Oluwole Garba, a respected member of the Owode Old Market Spare Parts Dealers Association, and Abiodun Ahmed, Chairman of the Owode Onirin Local Spare Parts Market, have also condemned the demolition.

Chief Wasiu Awoko, another influential trader, expressed deep shock over the development, stating that the destruction of the market without a clear alternative for traders is unjustifiable.

Similarly, Shina Oloremikan, a trader in the market, described the demolition as an “act of economic sabotage” against hardworking Nigerians.

A Cry for Justice

In response to the crisis, the Owode Onirin Market Traders Association has officially written to Governor Sanwo-Olu, urging him to intervene and stop the demolition before further damage is done. The traders insist that the local government should explore a more humane approach, such as proper dialogue and relocation plans, rather than rendering thousands of families jobless.

The situation remains tense, with affected traders hoping that the intervention of the state and federal authorities will prevent a total shutdown of their businesses.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Agboyi-Ketu Local Government nor Chairman Mayor Dele Osinowo has issued an official statement regarding the demolition.