Oyo traders protest demolition of stalls

By OLA AJAYI

IBADAN — MARKET women in the popular Dugbe Market yesterday stormed the Oyo State Secretariat protesting demolition of their stalls and non-provision of alternative space by the Governor Abiola Ajimobi led administration.

Also, the visibly angry traders alleged that some YES-O men recruited by the government stole some of their wares during the demolition exercise.

Brandishing placards ‘ACN, call Ajimobi to order’, ‘After Lam’s death, Oyo people suffer,’  ‘YES-O stole after demolition,’  the traders, despite the heavy presence of armed  policemen, still found their way into the secretariat.

The leader of traders,  Otun Iyalaje of Ibadan land, Chief (Mrs.) Victoria Coker, fumed, saying, “It is at Dugbe Market that we make money to finance our children’s education.

Many of these traders -widows and single mothers- cried out: “Where do we go now? Governor Ajimobi must not scatter Dugbe Market during his government. We closed down the market when he came to campaign. Is this what we would get in return from ACN?”

Pacifying the angry women, the Speaker, House of Assembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu assured them that the House would step into the issue.