The Deputy Chief of Staff to Oyo State Governor, Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle (DON), has expressed sympathy with executives and traders at Sango market in Ibadan the state Oyo state capital, over the recent fire that razed over 24 shops in the market.
During his sympathy visit to the market, Oyekunle made a personal donation of the sum of N250,000 in cash to the leadership of the market and pledged that more efforts would be made to ensure that more relief packages come their way.
He said: ”I’m here to sympathize with the entire membership of your market over the fire that gutted over 24 shops in this market.
“Such huge loss of wares by struggling members of your association could deal a heavy blow to the psyche of victims.
“I was particularly disturbed by the news of the inferno, more so that the state is being confronted with the devastating blast incident that occurred a few weeks ago in Bodija that had lives and properties destroyed.
“More so, truth be told, we sometimes, as individuals and associations, create what could have been averted. Our people understand that certain measures are needed in place for the safety of lives and properties, but rather we neglect them and hence occurrences like this.
“Government cannot do it alone. The people have a major stake in these processes and the masses need to get it right.
“We can only thank God for giving us a governor like His Excellency Engr. Seyi Makinde, who has been so proactive towards meeting the wants and needs of the people of Oyo state at all times.”
One of the victims said: “My two shops and a store, which were made of wood, were destroyed by the fire. And in them were goods and cash running into millions of Naira.”
One of the victims of the burnt shop, who does not want her name in the press, said: “The incident was so serious that I could not retrieve a pin from my burnt shop. If the fire incident had been daytime, maybe I would have been able to salvage one or two goods before it got out of hands.”
The babaloja of the market association, Alhaji Afeez Mustapha, whose shop was also affected by the fire, appreciated the governor’s aide for reaching out at a time when they needed the state government most.
He added that some had said politicians would only come when it is the electioneering period but, with the visitation of the Deputy chief of staff, there is a considerable conviction that the present government truly has the interest of the masses at heart.
He said: “The incident was a great loss, but we thank God that no life was lost. As a preventive measure, we will stick to the advice given to avert future occurrences.”
