Hundreds of traders at the Bola Ige International Market in Ibadan, Oyo State, have appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde not to demolish their shops.

The traders made this plea during a peaceful protest held in the market premises on Thursday.

DAILY POST gathered that there are plans to demolish some shops in the market and resell them to interested buyers.

Michi traders in the five market zones have, however, appealed to the governor to reconsider the demolition of their shops.

The small traders, while speaking, urged the governor to allow them to build the shops themselves.

They said they use the stores to feed their families and educate their children.

The traders, who said over 6,000 of them would be affected, urged the governor to direct the contractor to stop the demolition of shops in the market.

One of the traders, Alhaji Ismail Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, noted that the traders staged the protest within the market to express their dissatisfaction.

Yusuf said: “We are here to protest and pray against the demolition of our shops. We are here to express our displeasure with the state government and the contractor’s plan to demolish our shops. We appeal to Governor Seyi Makinde; we want him to hear our voices. Some people came as developers to demolish our shops and rebuild them. We don’t want developers. We want to build our own stores.

“During the time of Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, he allowed us to use planks; during the time of Chief Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, he allowed us to use containers. Governor Seyi Makinde said he wants us to use blocks. We want him to let us do it ourselves. We don’t want a developer. The developer will exploit us. We want Governor Seyi Makinde to step in and come to our rescue.”

A woman trader at the market, Deaconess Oluwatoyin Akinpelu, while speaking, lamented that four people died as a result of the planned demolition of the shops. She advised the governor to allow the traders to build the shops themselves.

“They want to take over our stores. Four people died from what they did, while some people developed illnesses. We appeal to the governor to allow us to build the shops ourselves. We want him to allow us to use blocks to build the shops ourselves.”

Another trader, Mrs Moriyeba Babajide, in her own contribution, appealed to the governor to approve the construction of shops by the traders.

“We want the governor to approve for us to build new stores. They should give us the sample and we will do it ourselves. That’s what we want. We don’t want any developer.”