Ajimobi makes a U-turn, okays Ladoja, others’ promotion

….Fire destroys 52 shops in Ibadan, Ado-Ekiti markets

The Ibadan Elders Forum on Tuesday mediated in the crisis between the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, over the elevation of Senator Lekan Balogun, a former governor of the state, Rashidi Ladoja, and seven other Ibadan high chiefs.

The IEF held a meeting at the house of its Chairman, Ambassador Olusola Saanu, on Tuesday evening at the end of which the matter was settled.

At the end of the meeting, which was attended by Dr. Lekan Are, High Chief Adebayo Akande, and Ashipa Olubadan, Chief Eddy Oyewole, the governor said the matter had been resolved.

Ajimobi added that the elevated high chiefs could retain their present status while the papers would be perfected to reflect due process.

“We should thank God for the elders. Our elders are committed to peace in Ibadanland and our king has shown that he is a good monarch. He contributed to my success as governor.

“In this case, brothers are fighting and elders have intervened. There is no cause for further misunderstanding. We will perfect the papers because the issue has been resolved by men of impeccable character. Due process will now take place. Sometimes, we get married before perfecting a marriage ceremony,” the governor told newsmen after the meeting.

Others at the meeting included the Olubadan’s son, Prof. Femi Lana, and the Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun.

It will be recalled that the high chiefs had been elevated by the monarch but the state government described the action as illegal because it did not go through due process.

The state government said the action was carried out by the Olubadan despite its directive that the high chiefs should submit their medical certificates of fitness before the monarch could elevate them.

The matter reached a crisis point on Monday when the governor issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the organisers of the elevation ceremony to reverse it and maintain the former status of the affected high chiefs.

A source who preferred anonymity had told our correspondent earlier on Tuesday that contrary to the insinuation that politics was beneath the whole issue, the government was only concerned that its directive was set aside before the elevation.

In the meantime, goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in an inferno which ravaged over 40 shops at the Sanyo community market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday.

It was learnt that firemen from the State Fire Service put out the fire, which began at 1am yesterday, at 3am.

The traders, who spoke with The Nation, said the fire started at midnight when power was restored by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.

The fire destroyed over 40 shops, which constitute about 98 per cent of the market.

The affected traders called on well- meaning individuals and the government to come and assist them.

They lauded the State Fire Service for coming to their rescue.

An affected trader, Ade Olaoye, who sells provisions and liquor, said only two shops were not affected; he put his loss at close to N1 million.

He revealed that the fire started as a result of power surge, which affected a refrigerator inside one of the affected shops.

Another victim, Mrs Kehinde Olatunji, who sells liquor and frozen foods, said items such as frozen foods, gold chains, wrist watches, drinks and food items were destroyed. She appealed to the government to come to their aid.

Another trader, who simply gave his name as Elder John, said this would be the second time he would be a victim as he put his loss at N650,000.

“Two years ago, there was a similar fire and I suffered a loss. I just stocked my shop and see me now,” he lamented.

It was a sad tale for many of the traders who got to know of the incident late as hoodlums already vandalised and stolen their goods before they got to the market.

Also in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, not less than 12 shops were razed in a shopping complex with goods valued at millions of Naira gone.

A shopping complex located near the popular Ile Abiye Hospital on Ilawe Road was gutted by fire at 1.20 pm with much damage done before firemen got to the scene.

Agrochemicals, textile, cooking utensils, animal feeds, saloon, stationery store, computer centre, among others.

Besides the firefighters, officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the police were on ground to carry out rescue operation.

One of the victims, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Genge, claimed that some unidentified individuals were burning bush inside Ile Abiye, which spread into the complex.

Mrs. Genge said: “Some people were burning bush and refuse inside Ile Abiye and it spread to the complex here. I don’t know where to start again but I want the government to assist us.”

Another victim, Chukwuemeka Damike, said: “I went to town to buy something and some people called me shouting Fire! Fire!! I ran back only to discover that my shop has been burnt.

“The shop is finished, I have nothing else, even one Naira is not in my pocket again.”

Oluwabanke Ojo, an expectant mother, lamented the huge loss incurred in the blaze. According to her, she is a graduate who took to trading after looking for jobs without success for six years.

Ekiti NEMA Head of Operations, Saheed Akiode, said the agency contacted the Fire Service after receiving a distress call.

Punch with additional report from Nation