The Origin, illegality of demolished-Oshodi (Owonifari) Market

The demolition of Owonifari market, on Tuesday/Wednesday, January 5 and 6, 2016 was a reality waiting to happen despite the fact that it took over three decades for the wrong to be right. Unfortunately, majority of the occupants who fell victims of the demolition knew little or no history about the origin and politics behind the emergence of Owonifari market.
 

Demolished Owonifari Market, Oshodi

  

Owonifari (meaning ‘money is a pride, in Yoruba language) sounded like a perfect name adopted after the market was created in 1978/79.

 Sources have disclosed that the creation of the market at the loop of the bridge, descending into Agege Motor Road emerged during the political era of the second republic. Oshodi, being a central spot of road transportation to connect most parts of the southwest and southeast as well as intra city, the influence of the National Union of Road Transport Workers was very heavy on the entire axis.

With so much power in the hands of the leadership of NURTW then, led by Bayo Ogundare (a.k.a Success), sources said, members of the transporter workers started allowing traders to display their wares at the spot for a daily fee paid to the union. The coming of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) at the Federal Government appeared to have consolidated the hold of NURTW on the entire Oshodi, hence the gradual setting up of the market later known as Owonifari.

Bayo Success, records had it, was widely used by the NPN then to intimidate the ruling, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in Lagos State.

From the point when military government of General Muhammadu Buhari took over in a coup, the control of the market gradually fell into the hands of successive state governments.  Because of the prolong military rule in Nigeria, the legitimacy of a market at such a place appeared unquestioned. And perhaps no government had reason that a market at such a strategic traffic spot added to the perpetual vehicular gridlock of the axis.

However, in 2005, Lagos State government, under Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu started revisiting the appropriateness of having a market at such a place. By the time Babatunde Fashola became the governor, arrangement was already concluded to relocate the occupants of the market to Isopakodowo, a plank market behind Kayero market. In fact, when the Kayero market was being renovated during Fashola’s regime, the portion of Isopakodowo meant for the relocation of Owonifari was ready.

Lagos State Government’s response:

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde defended the demolition: “It is important to be informed that the issue of that market had been on for nothing less than 10 years.
“The state government had been engaging with the leadership of the market to say that we could no longer continue with the manner in which that area of the market was being used.
“So, for 10 years, there has been back and forth engagement between the government and the leadership of the market.
“Certified that we have provided a befitting alternative, we started another round of engagement with the leadership of the market.
“The governor appealed to them through the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs.
“They met with members of the state executive on Dec. 16, 2015, where the governor reiterated his plans for Oshodi and the need to relocate them.
“A few of them expressed certain misgivings, but largely, they felt that if their interests were accommodated within the Isopakodowo market that they were willing and ready to move.
“We advised that discussions should be ongoing, particularly regarding how much they will pay for each stall within the market.
Ayorinde added that on Dec. 21, 2015, the governor went on a tour of Oshodi, where he again met with the leadership of the Owonifari Market. A N5, 000 monthly rent was agreed, Ayorinde disclosed.
 “There is really no market anywhere that you will be paying such an amount in a month for a shop.
“The governor agreed with them and we said we were ready to concede.
“Along the line, convinced that our new year project was to relocate them to Isopakodowo Market, we got intelligence reports that as at during the Yuletide, a number of criminal activities were going on there.
“We also got reports that the place was harbouring criminals and a number of untoward activities.
 

Owonifari Market (before demolition)

“This, of course, necessitated that we should move immediately to safeguard lives, property and to ensure that there was no breech of peace.
“This was what led to the demolition exercise. We believe a good number of the traders, if not all, had moved because they were aware they needed to move.
“From reports, quite a good chunk of them acknowledged that they were properly served and that they were ready to move; many of them packed their things just before the end of the year.
“Government, I should say, will not be blackmailed because we have done everything humanly possible.
“We believe very strongly that Isopakodowo Market is quite ideal, a lot bigger than where they were.
 “It is to return sanity to the place, to beautify the place and construct a world class bus terminus.
“We also believe the exercise will largely reduce the gridlock that is associated with that area and the criminalities that were rampant in Oshodi.
“What we have done is in the interest of the generality of residents.