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| Drowning of Biafrans in Lagos Lagoon: Lagos State Govt shuts down Biafra-dominated Ladipo Market |
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State is poised to make good the threat by Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu to drown the Igbo mass in Lagos Lagoon.
Governor Ambode, however, is taking an economic dimension to the saga. He shut down Ladipo Market located in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, which is predominantly an Igbo stronghold.
According to a Ladipo trader, Mr Obi Ochiagha that spoke to Elombah.com over the phone, the situation was very embarrassing as they received no prior notification to that effect.
“We showed up for business in our fashion only to meet the market cordoned off by security personnels,” Mr Obi had said.
“Nothing recently happened that would warrant the callous action of Lagos State Government to the extent of shutting up a business premises that is source of income to thousands of Igbos,” he added.
Presently, the traders union are organising themselves to, either sort matters out with the government, or take to the streets in protest.
Another Igbo trader who wishes to remain anonymous said the State Government claimed that they want to rebuild the market while a tipper was only discharging gravel after the lockdown.
He thought it ridiculous as, according to him, “the government has not dig foundation anywhere in the market, hence the claim of closing the market for rebuilding purposes makes no sense.”
“Worse yet, the traders were not even allowed to carry their goods from their shops,” headed.
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| Oba of Lagos who threaten to drown Biafrans in Lagos Lagoon parleys with Gov Ambode |
This latest development is the third of its kind the Lagos State Government locked the same market. Earlier, on February 25, 2013, Lagos State Government made good its threat to shut down the popular auto spare parts market.
On April 21, 2015, the State government threatened to shut down the popular Ladipo auto spare parts market if the crisis rocking the market is not resolved.
Observers, however, cite this latest development as the execution of the threats by the Oba of Lagos who threatened to drown the Igbos in the Lagos Lagoon if they fail to vote for Akinwumi Ambode in the past gubernatorial election, an election which Mr. Ambode eventually won.
Yourba-owned PM News also reported the incident:
According to their report some armed men and officials suspected to be working for Mushin Local Government and supported by a team of policemen on Tuesday morning invaded Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market and demolished shops in the market.
During the demolition exercise, the traders were barred from entering the market in Mushin, Lagos State, western Nigeria, to remove their goods from the shops.
The armed men were battle ready to forestall any resistance from the traders as the demolition was going on.
Traders were also not allowed to get near the entrance into the market as tipper lorries were seen taking sand and gravel into the market to commence work after the demolition.
The chairman of the market and president of the central market union, Comrade Kingsley Ogunor said he was not informed before they came for the demolition which threw the entire market into confusion.
In front of the market gate was a banner placed by those suspected to be behind the demolition with the inscription: Proposed Commercial Development of Mushin, Lagos.
It was also written on the banner that Mushin Local Government in conjunction with a developer known as Total Value Integrated Services Limited is to commence building a modern plaza market in place of the present stalls being demolished.
Roofs at Ladipo market removed
Roofs at Ladipo market removed
The duration for the completion of the project is 18 months.
When our reporter visited the market Tuesday morning, some of the traders expressed their surprise over the development and said they were not given any notice, neither was there any court judgment asking them to vacate the stalls.
At the time of this report, the traders had started protesting over the demolition and had moved to the Mushin Council secretariat to complain about what they alleged as illegal demolition.
When our reporter visited the council, the council secretary, Mr Babajide Bello was not around to comment on the matter.
Traders locked outside the market as demolition going on at Ladipo market
Traders locked outside the market as demolition going on at Ladipo market
The information officer, Mr Akin Akinwunmi was not also around and did not pick calls at the time of this report.
A developer carried out a similar action some time last year and it did not amount to anything as the traders held on to their stalls.
It was not yet clear if it is the same developer that is behind the latest demolition.
-Elombah
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