Dugbe Market traders protest stalls demolition

TRADERS in Dugbe Market, Ibadan are angry with the Oyo State government over wanton demolition of their stalls without providing them alternatives.

They are further alarmed by the brazen looting of their multi-million naira loans-procured goods by agents of Gov. Abiola Ajimobi. The angry traders, numbering about 200, yesterday besieged the Oyo State government Secretariat in protest to register their displeasure against Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Armed with placards of various anti-government inscriptions such as “After Lam’s death, Oyo people suffer”, “YES-O steal after demolition”, “ACN, call Ajimobi to order”, among others, the traders defied police barricade at the entrance to the secretariat, chanting war songs.

They were led by the Otun Iyalaje of Ibadan land, Chief Mrs Victoria Coker, while condemning the failure of government to serve them with demolition notice before directing the YES-O brigade to unleash such terror on their business concern.

According to Coker, “What baffled us more was the burgling of our stores and the carting away of our wares by the YES-O cadets on Sunday afternoon. The goods were bought with loans obtained from SEAP and NAPO which is yet to be repaid.

“It is at Dugbe Market that we make money to finance our students’ education. Many of these traders are widows and single mothers who fend for their families. Now, where do we go?

“Governor Ajimobi must not scatter Dugbe Market during his government. His late mother once traded in the market. We closed down the market when he came to campaign. He removed his shoes and promised that he would never disturb us. In turn, we mobilised our members to vote for him. Now, he has pounced on us. God is watching.

“We are not trading on the streets. So, why are they disturbing us? Already, four of our members have been hospitalised in the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan because they could not raise money to repay the loan in instalment every Monday as agreed with those that gave out the loans.

“We expect government to even give us loan to trade, but we got none from this government. We do not want to go into prostitution. We appeal to Ajimobi to release our goods. He should have provided an alternative market before driving us away from Dugbe,” she said.

Speaker of the Oyo state House of Assembly, Mrs Monsurat Sunmonu, while addressing the protesters said that the state government was committed to their welfare and assured them that the House would intervene to ensure adequate provision was made for them.