‘Protect our dignity,’ Displaced Owode Onirin traders beg Sanwo-Olu, Obasa

The displaced traders at the now demolished Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts Association, Ikorodu, Lagos, have called on the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Speaker of the State Huse of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa to protect their dignity from invasion of the market by alleged land grabbers.

The traders who urged the governor and Assembly speaker to be on the side of the truth, also called on all relevant security agencies to protect the socio-economic rights and livelihoods of traders from those, they claimed, threatening and intimidating traders in the market.

They made this call during a press conference jointly held by the traders in conjunction with rights organisations led by the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), at the market on Friday.

Chairman of the Association, Abiodun Ahmed, issued a caveat to the unsuspecting members of the public that the market either in part or whole is up for sales.

According to him, Owode Onirin spare parts market is the only motor spare part market in the entire Southwest region hence it must not be allowed to go into extinction.

He said, “I appeal to the Lagos State government to protect the dignity of men and women traders in the market. They should be on the side of the truth because we voted them in power. Apart from this, the space on which the market was located was given to traders by the former Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande therefore it will be unfair for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take it over from us. We are in the majority while they are in the minority. This is the only international spare parts market in the entire Southwest region. We are not fighting anybody, but we are appealing to the government to save us from the aggressors.”

Corroborating this standpoint, representative of Agbajowo Market Association, Tijani Moshood, said there was no form of written or verbal agreements that warranted the invasion and eventual demolition of the market.

He said, “We have been trading in the markets for over four decades. It is not a rented space, it was given to us by the then governor of the state. We have not had any problem or clash with any government since then. We perform our civic responsibilities and we are also law-abiding residents in the state. We are appealing to the government to intercede on our behalf. Some land grabbers are threatening us. There is no written documents or verbal agreement between us. The land grabbers are threatening to sell our land. We are aware of the moves but as law abiding citizens, we are looking up to the government to intervene and bail us out. This land doesn’t belong to Agboyi Ketu LCDA. It belongs to traders in the market. We are calling for assistance because the land grabbers have failed to complied.”

An elder in the market, Alhaji Wasiu Awoko, while lamenting the plights of the traders, called for a minute silence in honour of the late Lateef Jakande for his exceptional visionary leadership in the state.

He said, “Owode is not Lekki that the governor would have interest in taking it over at all cost. We have made necessary noise but its unfortunate that we are ignored by the governor and the state Assembly.

“We call on all Nigerian to stand by us. They can’t overpower us with their thugs, but we chose to be peace loving for them not to make a case against us. We call on President Bola Tinubu to see this and call the governor to order. May we not have problems in the state. Five people have died while many people are on sick beds. This land is not for sale.”

Meanwhile, CHSR president, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, has reiterated the readiness of the rights group to pursue the matter to a logical end.

He said, “The CHSR as a reputable human right organisation and the Owode Onirin Motor Spare Parts Association remain committed to pursuing this matter legally and peacefully, while ensuring that no Nigerian falls victim to this fraudulent scheme.”

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