Fashola, with Okorocha, revisits Ladipo Market

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) accompanied by his Imo State counterpart, Owelle Rochas Okorocha on Thursday visited the closed Ladipo International Auto Market, Mushin, with Governor Fashola restating that the market would be opened once the identified problem with it is solved through a joint effort between the government, the traders and their cultural cum political leadership.

“This is a joint effort now and not one team that is doing it or one group. You and your government are working together and your cultural and political leadership to solve a problem that we commonly identify and once that is done, I think business should open her”, the Governor said.

Governor Fashola who spoke with the traders after inspecting the drains and the frontage of the market added that the Commissioner for the Environment will let him know when the work is completed and he will come back and get the issue done over with quickly, adding: “I think we will get to the end of this in the next few hours hopefully. I think before this week is over this should be done and we should get back to work”.

He restated that there is no problem between the State Government and the traders but that it has some work to do which it intends to do quickly so that when completed the people can get back to their daily commercial activities In a way that is sustainable.

According to the Governor, part of the work to be done by the traders would include ensuring that they do not hamper the daily activities of other law abiding stakeholders in the area.
“The properties owners here who are your landlords and your neighbours must also be able to come to their homes and go about their business while you are doing your own business”.

“The factories here must be able to operate and keep our young people at work while you are also doing business. This is the way that all of you will generate the revenue that i need to fix this road”.

The Governor was certain that the infrastructural upgrade in Mushin would extend to the Ladipo area once the traders comply with the directives for orderly conduct of their business.

“As you have said, the things speak for itself, our developmental efforts in Mushin has stopped there because the contractors could not access this place. Now if you are taxpaying citizens, how can we develop and leave you behind. So what you have asked for, the upgrade of this road, the restoration of the street lights is the easiest thing to do and it will follow as of course”, the Governor explained.

The Governor reiterated that the quicker the cleaning up work going on in the market is concluded just as it was explained to leaders of the market and the Ndigbo Lagos led by Professsor Anya O Anya who visited him, business should be able to open in the market again.
He thanked the Imo State Governor for the sense of leadership that he has shown because there are so many other things that he could have been doing back home but he chose to come to Ladipo Market to show the spirit and character of leadership and concern to go to difficult places where people needs help and he reaches out to them.

Addressing the traders earlier, Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said he was at Ladipo Market to see the situation for himself because he has been very concerned as to what went wrong when he heard that the traders were losing revenue.
He said after listening to the Governor of Lagos and knowing who he is and what he represented, he is very certain that the Lagos State Governor means well for the people.

“So, I came in here to see for myself and everything is quite explicit that there is need to keep the place clean. We, the Ibos are known for cleanliness. Those of us in this market should not be an exception to that”
“I see that there is a need to clean the gutter and clean this place and so it is not necessary that the Governor says you must clean up and then move back. There is a relationship between you and him and he is saying make your place better for your own good”, Governor Okorocha added.

He appealed to the traders to eschew all forms of factions but to be united and also cooperate with the State Governor so that he would have the opportunity of coming back with him for the launching of the new Ladipo market that is provided with electricity, good road network, water and all that the people may desire, stressing that he is convinced that Governor Fashola would do it for them.

The two Governors were received at the market by the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tunji Bello and senior officials of his ministry amidst cheers from the expectant traders.