LADIPO MARKET: Agitation , Condemnation Trails Unlawful Sack Of Union,Take Over Of Agu Ironsi International Market, By Mushin LGA 5 – Man Committee

By Miriam Adedamola Oyewole 

 In what have been described by experts in Market Unionism, as well as many traders in Ladipo market,as Unlawful intrusion and Coup de tat, by Mushin Local Government Area,in a supposed democratic dispensation.

Angry traders at the popular Igbo dominated Ladipo international market, have vowed to resist the forceful sack of the Agu ironsi International Market Association elected Executive by some anti-Igbo, misdirected and disgruntled elements, using Mushin local Government Area,as their ladder.

News Planet International gathered from reliable sources that the aggrieved traders are presently strategizing on how to resist the intrusion of the  5-Man Committee Management Board, composing of Civil Servants and non – members of their Association, recently inaugurated and being forced on the Traders by Mushin LG Authority To Take Over Aguiyi Ironsi Market .

When our Correspondent visited the market yesterday, Many of the traders interviewed opposed what they described as  illegal takeover of the internal affairs of their Association and market.

The Chairman of Mushin LG, Hon. Emmanuel Bamigboye, was  alleged to have inaugurated the Committee without proper,  due consultation, input and information to the traders and board of trustees of the market Association .

He was said to have gone  ahead to  Name Committee Board  members, which he announced  as : Barrister Femi Martins – Chairman;Mr. Tope Olowoyeye – Secretary; Mr. Babatunde Ige;Mr. Ajibade Olajoku and Mr. Emmanuel Dike.

 Hon. Bamigboye , was quoted to have said that the 5-man board is shouldered with the responsibility of harmonising and protecting the interest of the Local Government through the following terms of reference;

*To oversee the administration of the entire market

* To harmonise all tribes in the market and promote unity among traders

*To report all activities of the market to the Council Chairman

*To manage the crisis and harmonise all the activities going on in the market in the best interest of the Local Government.

*To formulate policies that will administer peace and justice among different groups and tribes in the market

*To bring all factions together and ensure that rates and dues are properly paid into the purse of the Local Government.

 They were further told to ensure that all the parties in the Aguiyi Ironsi International Spare Parts Market (also known as Paramo market), are brought together in unity for peace to reign in the market.

As at the time of going to the press, traders and most of the past , present leadership of the  traders Association,  have vowed to fight for the enforcement of their fundamental rights to freedom of Association and all other of their rights that are being trampled upon ,as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, hence would resist the encroachment by the local government committee .

Stating their own facts from the beginning of the market establishment,the traders noted that the market was built in conjunction with Paramo Ventures. while they the traders built all the blocks , plazas with their individual money ,on an agreement that the traders will pay certain amount annually to the Mushin LG.

This,  the traders affirmed that they have been faithful in paying the levy to the Mushin LG over the years , they added that the greed of some LGA Staff, was the propelling factor to the establishment of the committee, as the LGA Staff have been nursing the illegal plans to encroach and manage the affairs of the traders at the market.

 It would be recalled that Hon. Emmanuel Bamigboye, had  claimed that the board was constituted following the signing of the Bye-Law establishing the market board for all the management of activities across all the markets in Mushin Local Government.

 On the Bye – Law issues,the traders argued that the Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria supercedes any other bye law.

 Besides, the traders further slammed the LGA Chairman, for not stating why he constituted the board without the input of the traders who built the market and have been paying their annual levy to the Council.

Now, there appears a looming crisis hanging in the air at Ladipo International Market,as some of the market leaders, stakeholders and BOT members,who spoke on the grounds of anonymity ,said that they are now determined to fight for their right and restore santity to the market they built with their sweat.