Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde on Tuesday ordered the immediate reopening of the Shasha market in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state which was closed a few weeks ago.
The governor had shut the market A fortnight ago after a deadly clash between Hausa and Yoruba traders which claimed quite a number of lives and also saw the destruction of properties worth millions of naira.
Makinde while speaking with the leaders of the Hausa and Yoruba communities at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, on Tuesday, gave reasons for the move and also promised to move workers to the site of the market so that work can begin immediately.
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He said: ‘Considering the economic situation and the peculiarities we have with us, I have heard what you said, and we will immediately reopen the Shasa market. They will bring a bulldozer to the market today.
‘When my brother Governors visited Seriki Shasa palace, while we were working around, I realized that both the people I saw at Seriki’s place and those I met at Baale’s place were not happy because they have been deprived of doing their job.
‘If you look at Oyo State, even when the COVID-19 was at its peak, I decided not to shut our market places because I know and also explained to the leadership of the country at the national level that in our state, we have people that the proceeds from what they get today will determine if they will eat tomorrow or not.’ He added.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK