Ekiti to relocate market over recurring crashes

The Ekiti State Government has announced plans to relocate the Iworoko Ekiti Central Market in the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state to checkmate the incidents of recurrent auto crashes and attendant losses of lives and property.

The Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, said this in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday when she received stakeholders from the community, who paid a courtesy visit to her office.

Recall that a truck rammed into the market in 2019, killing 15 persons and injuring some while many traders lost their wares.

Last month, there was another truck accident around the market which left two persons dead.

Afuye, in a statement by his media aide, Victor Ogunje, said Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration remained committed to reversing the recurrent cases of killings of traders and other citizens at Iworoko Market in vehicular accidents.

“Let me sympathise with you on behalf of Governor Oyebanji on the deaths of your indigenes in road accidents that occurred inside the market. I think it has occurred almost four times in five years. This is unacceptable.

“I learnt that the House of Assembly had passed a resolution advising that the market should be relocated, which further signified how significant the relocation is.

“I will convey your message to Governor Oyebanji and I know something will be done urgently to salvage the situation,” the deputy governor said.

The government also promised to expedite action on the installation of a new Alaworoko whose stool had been vacant since 2019, following the demise of Oba Michael Aladejana.

This, she said, would help to attract development to the town.

Afuye counselled the community against resorting to frivolous legal actions that could stall the selection process.

“Go and do your homework very well, we are ready for you. I learned that there was controversy over the Iworoko Chieftaincy Declaration. This will be streamlined and the correction will be done very soon,” she said.

Earlier, the Regent, Princess Bolanle Ogundola, bemoaned how 15 persons were killed when a truck rammed into the market in 2019.

She also appealed to the government to dismantle all obstacles and install a substantive monarch, so that she could reunite with her family.

The President of Iworoko Progressive Union, Tajudeen Fatayo, said, “Just recently, two people died when a vehicle somersaulted inside the market. Sadly enough, four fatal accidents had happened inside the market within five years apart from minor ones.”

Fatayo stated that the community had taken copious actions by identifying a site where the market could be relocated, but expressed resentment at how a family within the town was serving as a stumbling block, by claiming ownership of the parcel of lands owned by the community for ages.

He appealed to the government to look into cases of land encroachment rearing its heads on the land belonging to Iworoko Community High School, to safeguard the town’s heritage.