By Ishola Balogun

Early last Wednesday, Oshodi made the news again, with a bulldozer at work. On orders of governor Akinwunmi Ambode, it rumbled through the Owonifari market,Oshodi, Lagos, crushed and flattened everything on sight within the market. But cries of traders at the market, roared louder than the bulldozer which pulled down the market. “I am finished, I just arrived from China with over N20million goods, they have crushed everything. Where will I start from?”
It was a cacophony of noise, curses, abuses mixed with rage and anger. Even by-standers and onlookers did not spare the authorities, as some of them muted abuses on the Ambode-led government for destroying the market with goods worth over one billion naira. A few others said: Traders in Lagos are stubborn, they will never hear, that is good for them!

Kenneth Madu, a trader in the market told Saturday Vanguard that he had been extremely brutalised as he lost everything he had laboured for in the market.

Battling emotion, Madu stated: “I just stocked my shop with new items I brought in from China a few days before the Christmas holiday. When I heard that they have sealed up the market, I rushed down to see if I can evacuate all my goods from the shop. They denied us access into the market and chose to demolish the market with all our goods. I had more than N20million goods in my own shop. Others had more. All attempt to remove our goods failed. I even offered to give the police N200,000 just to allow me remove my goods, they refused. I have been brutalised and traumatised. This is murder, they have killed us.”

He gazed again at what used to be his small shop that contained his over N20million goods leaned back to clear his over-burdened brain of the confusion and said: “This government is wicked and inhuman.” Asked whether there was any notice to that effect. He stated that there was no notice of the demolition, “they only came to serve a 21-day quit notice that Isopakodowo in Bolade has been provided. But the 21-day quit notice has not expired. Even where they said we should go at Bolade is uncompleted, small and cannot contain all the traders in this market let alone attract the patronage we receive here,” Madu stated.

Another trader, Mr Sunday Obi said: “I heard the government had sealed up the market while I was at home for Christmas, I quickly rushed down, but I got here on Wednesday. They have demolished and destroyed everything I had in the market. I had over N10million worth of goods. I sell wires and electronics in my shops. This morning I came to see if I could pick up a few things from the rubble, but I saw fire everywhere again. Who set fire on what was left?

We don’t know. But, it means, there was a deliberate attempt for us not to pick up anything from here. If they (governments) don’t want the Igbos in Lagos, they should come out to tell us. How can they demolished the market without allowing us to remove our goods? It is inhuman,” he said.

Obi stated that over 2000 traders had their goods trapped in the demolished market, with huge loses that run into over a billion naira. “About 2000 traders had different goods in the market. I really can’t estimate what we have lost but a modest estimate will be over a billion naira. At a time when people have spent all what they had to re-stock preparation for business in a new year, it is wicked,” he said.

In 2009, Ambode’s predecessor, Babatunde Fashola, was praised for clearing Oshodi, ridding the areas of miscreants and easing traffic gridlock in the area. Following this development, Ambode who after inauguration said his government will govern with compassion, is perhaps set to conclude the unfinished job BFR started on Oshodi seven years ago.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/govt-doesnt-want-igbo-traders-in-lagos/

How is this So?

Igbos need to pray more and complain less

By doing this, it will definitely bounce back on the Sai Babas

I hope nobody will shout Igbos are greedy when prices of goods are increased to make enough profit to pay for exorbitant shop rents.


CHANGE IS GOOD IF PROPERLY DONE

WHERE THE SHOP OWNERS GIVEN ENOUGH NOTICE TIME.?

IF YES, CAN LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE A NEWSPAPER PUBLICATION THAT MADE IT PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE THAT THE SHOPS WILL BE DEMOLISH .

Hmmmm, sad to see people suffer loses. 21 days notice is crazy , and such a notice given during the xmas holiday is just callous ,

ehissi:
: “This government is wicked and inhuman.” Asked whether there was any notice to that effect. He stated that there was no notice of the demolition, “they only came to serve a 21-day quit notice that Isopakodowo in Bolade has been provided. But the 21-day quit notice has not expired. Even where they said we should go at Bolade is uncompleted, small and cannot contain all the traders in this market let alone attract the patronage we receive here,” Madu stated.


Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/govt-doesnt-want-igbo-traders-in-lagos/

Yesterday I read here that they were given 3months abi 3years notice bla bla bla but Just take a look at the bold.


This country can waste!!!!! Imagine a country that cannot produce ordinary toothpick set fire on electronics imported from China. Atimes I wonder if we're under a spell.smh

Mr Governor d most high God is watching u,ds is wickedness
I will advise d Igbos 2 push all their business 2 south east

Eko o ni bajee oooooo..


Keep lagos clean

Even thou biafrans are lousy but to be candid Lagos state government is heartless how can you destroy goods worth billions of naira without giving the traders any form of notice nor showing mercy this is an act of tyranny.
My good igbo friends who are Nigerians also need to tread gently wherever they are.

Igbos who fail to reinvest in the east choosing to put all their eggs in the Lagos basket should expect more than this.
This is only the beginning of the drowning of igbos in the lagoon.
For the umpteenth time igbos should start divesting and investing 50% of their investment in the east, there will be nothing more than appealing to some people of igbos coming to shed crocodile tears of how the lost N20m in demolition of shops and houses.

Insanity of Buhari-led APC at its peak.
If they don't want the Igbos in Lagos anymore they should say so.

This is really confirming leaked telephone conversation between a certain alhaji and kunle on how to stifle the Igbos economically and I think they have started it.

Is the Kunle and Alahaji phone conversation real? It seems like it's happening already.

oluwafemi113:
Eko o ni bajee oooooo..


Keep lagos clean

Yes ooooooooo

By giving short notice

Tell the government to make notice also on national dailies alongside the direct notice in order to save investors money.

Do you know how many local investors would have lost money financing those shop owners.

Believing this sh.it is like believing mikel will win world best.

oluwafemi113:
Eko o ni bajee oooooo..
Keep lagos clean

Won ba property awon eyan je iwo n pariwo Eko o ni bajee ooooo o de sure pe owa okay??.

coolzeal:
Is the Kunle and Alahaji phone conversation real? It seems like it's happening already.

LMFashions:
Insanity of Buhari-led APC at its peak.
If they don't want the Igbos in Lagos anymore they should say so.
This is really confirming leaked telephone conversation between a certain alhaji and kunle on how to stifle the Igbos economically and I think they have started it.

Imagine moving the clearing office to kano from Lagos instead of decentralizing the office along States.

oluwafemi113:
Eko o ni bajee oooooo..

Keep lagos clean

We know your kind, na una go still suffer am.

There are always two sides to a coin...

But I pass through that market corner almost on a daily basis on my way to Ajao estate.

Found it locked on Monday with a white and red sign paper noting it for locked down or demolition while the traders hanged around..

And demolition took place on Wednesday...

As of yesterday u can see the mallam guys picking up what's left of the remnant and the aluminum or electronic materials left from the burning in the rubbles..

ALL WILL BE WELL....

there are always three sides to a story... The two opposing sides and the truth side

20 million naira Worth of goods in those tiny shops na diamond you de sell insind the shop.igbos can lie chaiiii.....

ehissi:

Battling emotion, Madu stated: “I just stocked my shop with new items I brought in from China a few days before the Christmas holiday. When I heard that they have sealed up the market, I rushed down to see if I can evacuate all my goods from the shop. They denied us access into the market and chose to demolish the market with all our goods. I had more than N20million goods in my own shop. Others had more. All attempt to remove our goods failed. I even offered to give the police N200,000 just to allow me remove my goods, they refused. I have been brutalised and traumatised. This is murder, they have killed us.”

Many idiiots will come out to shout "how were the Igbos being targeted?" If they were not being targeted why were those who wanted to take their wares out denied?

I get this is Buhari's subtle way of destroying all imported items in the country. Buhari GOD will judge you ooo.

hmm...this one na white lie o...but @least they'v given them a replacement of a #5k per month shop

Sall:
20 million naira Worth of goods in those tiny shops na diamond you de sell insind the shop.igbos can lie chaiiii.....

Poverty is a disease that can make an educated person sound like an illiterate

Those small shops contain goods that can refund your school fees from kindergarten to university

Luukasz:
Won ba property awon eyan je iwo n pariwo Eko o ni bajee ooooo o de sure pe owa okay??.

Se o n da werey yen lohun ni.

Sall:
20 million naira Worth of goods in those tiny shops na diamond you de sell insind the shop.igbos can lie chaiiii.....

Some of them have more than that. It's not amala they're selling inside

I don't wanna believe Vanguard actually published something like this!

Why are these guys bent on fanning the embers of ethnic intolerance in this country From all the trash they published about Nnamumudi Kaalum to those about IPOD, it is crystal clear what the objective of these guys are, and it is a sinister one.

This is highly provocative, totally unnecessary, and not in tandem with the tenets and ethos of constructive reportage.

That said, I was and still am totally against that exercise. The government needed to have given more room for the traders to evacuate their stores. Government must always be seen to be pro-people and not what is being displayed here. I hope to see these guys come together and approach the Industrial Court to seek redress to this highly unjustifiable assault on their livelihood by the government who ought to protect same.

Sall:
20 million naira Worth of goods in those tiny shops na diamond you de sell insind the shop.igbos can lie chaiiii.....

You think say na yam flour and ata rodo they pack inside those shops... Yeye

LMFashions:


Many idiiots will come out to shout "how were the Igbos being targeted?" If they were not being targeted why were those who wanted to take their wares out denied?

I get this is Buhari's subtle way of destroying all imported items in the country. Buhari GOD will judge you ooo.

Maybe the other tribes were allowed to take their own goods out?

Funny, an Igbo dude here once beat his chest that Igbos decide who gets what in Lagos. One of many reason why I have no empathy when government decides how Lagos is developed.

Another Igbo dude was reminded some years ago here that he had not condemned a certain demolition of markets in Abia State. He retorted saying as long as it was done by his tribesman, it was certainly done with good intentions for the state.

I also believe this demolition was done with good intentions for my state, which will not have any recourse to another tribe's opinion on the matter.

segsxpendable:
hmm...this one na white lie o...but @least they'v given them a replacement of a #5k per month shop

Are you guys just daft or just simple mischievous? A market of 2000-5000 traders and you are given them 600 shops. Even at that why a short quit notice and also why stopping those who were ready to remove their things from removing it?

omenka:
I don't wanna believe Vanguard actually published something like this!

Why are these guys bent on fanning the embers of ethnic intolerance in this country From all the trash they published about Nnamumudi Kaalum to those about IPOD, it is crystal clear what the objective of these guys are, and it is a sinister one.

This is highly provocative, totally unnecessary, and not in tandem with the tenets and ethos of constructive reportage.

That said, I was and still am totally against that exercise. The government needed to have given more room for the traders to evacuate their stores. Government must always be seen to be pro-people and not what is being displayed here. I hope to see these guys come together and approach the Industrial Court to seek redress to this highly unjustifiable assault on their livelihood by the government who ought to protect same.

But you will believe them if they publish something denigrating the Igbos, right? I don see you finish.

StOla:


Maybe the other tribes were allowed to take their own goods out?

Funny, an Igbo dude here once beat his cheast that Igbos decide who gets what in Lagos. One of many reason why I have no empathy when government decides how Lagos is developed.

Another Igbo dude was reminded some years ago here that he had not condemned a certain demolition of markets in Abia State. He retorted saying as long as it was done by his tribesman, it was certainly done with good intentions for the state.

I also believe this demolition was done with good intentions for my state, which will not have any recourse to another tribe's opinion on the matter.

Oh really? Evil is in your blood.

Does that justify not giving them adequate quit notice, giving the crazy 21-day quit notice during xmas when most of them traveled and stopping those who wants to go take their goods from doing so?

Say amen to this prayer. "May you receive in 100holds whatever you wish the Igbos". Can you?

what is d meaning of all these tribal nonsense? was it only Igbos dt hv shops there. were some shops spared while others were demolished?
s
we hv to stop unnecessary tribal alarm

LMFashions:


Are you guys just daft or just simple mischievous? A market of 2000-5000 traders and you are given them 600 shops. Even at that why a short quit notice and also why stopping those who were ready to remove their things from removing it?

bro never vex abeg,,am not in anyway related to Ambode..am just here to place my view....i still doubt the fact that they were not allowed to pack their goods before the demolition of the shops.

Rose2014:


Some of them have more than that

You shouldn't be replying that one. He thinks it's amala and soup items they stocked in those shops.