Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Tuesday promised to reopen the Shasha market, located at the Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.
Recall that the market was shut down two weeks ago, following what looked like an ethnic clash between Hausa traders and Yoruba indigenes leading the loss of many lives and property.
Mr Makinde, who dropped the hint during a meeting with the leaders of the two warring communities at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, said that the market would be opened any moment from now.
According to the governor, the decision to reopen the market was necessitated by the declining economic situation and the peculiarities associated with the state, adding that he would reopen the market for the traders to continue with their commercial activities.
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 Shasha market. They will bring bulldozer to the market today.
“When my brother Governors visited Seriki Shasha’s palace, while we were working around, I realised 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 jobs.
“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.”
