Anguish as Fayose demolishes 100-year-old marketAdo-Ekiti Main Market, the Erekesan, which was believed to have existed for over 100 years, has been demolished to pave the way for a new one. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA examines how the demolition affected the lives of traders and the city.
The Erekesan Market in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital is not run-of-the-mill market. It is the biggest, the busiest and the most patronised market not only in the city but in the entire state.
Otherwise known as the Oja Oba (the king’s market), it is in the heart of the city and adjacent to the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III.
As in other Yoruba towns and cities, it is located within the vicinity of the palace and is synonymous with royalty. Oja Oba in any Yoruba community serves as one of the symbols of the king and it is usually closed anytime a reigning monarch passes away.
The Erekesan Market, which is believed to have existed for over 100 years, grew in leaps and bounds as Ado-Ekiti expanded over the years and used to be patronised by customers from all over the country and beyond.
Other markets in Ado-Ekiti include Bisi, Okesa, Irona, Mojere, Enu Odi, Irasa, Better Life and Awedele. These markets are neighbourhood ones which serve the needs of people residing in the areas where they are located.
They exist alongside the city’s main market; but some of them open for business on specific days unlike the Erekesan which opens its doors for business every day.
The influx of more people into Ado-Ekiti, especially when the city became the capital of Ekiti State on October 1, 1996, widened the scope of the market; thus overstretching the little available facilities.
Having become a state capital without any known Master Plan, situations inside and outside the Erekesan Market became chaotic; judged by the huge crowd that visits it daily.
The market had no parking space. This resulted in making those who came to do business violate traffic rules. This is so because many traders; especially those without shops, displayed their wares in a disorganised manner and at unlawful places.
Apart from this, the market suffered environmental deterioration as heaps of garbage turned it to an eyesore. Owing to lack of toilet facilities, traders and their customers experience difficulties anytime they are hard-pressed.
Besides, theft of money, goods and other materials were common place and on some occasions, the aggrieved resorted to jungle justice until a police post was established at the Ewi’s Palace.
The market has been gutted by fire several times in the past; with goods worth millions of Naira lost.
Two tragedies befell the market in quick succession in the month of May. The first was the violent clash between youths of Ado-Ekiti and Hausa traders which resulted in the burning of some shops and the Hausa traders temporarily relocated to Shasha, on the outskirts of the neighbouring Ikere-Ekiti.
As the victims were still brooding over their losses, unknown arsonists set the market on fire about a week after the first incident which affected greater number of shops.
The relics of the burnt shops made the market ugly and made many traders bankrupt.
Apparently shocked by the savagery of the unknown individuals who set the market ablaze and the huge losses which followed it, Governor Ayo Fayose was determined to give the city a new market that befits its status.
During this year’s Udiroko Festival, Governor Fayose officially announced his readiness to construct a new market to replace the Erekesan as a mark of his respect for the Ewi and in appreciation of the support he received from his subjects at the June 21, 2014 governorship election.
As time went by, Fayose, who was determined to bring his dream for a new market to reality, summoned owners of buildings at the market to a meeting where he unfolded his administration’s intent and the compensation package.
The governor issued deadlines three times and ordered those to be affected by the planned demolition to move to Agric Olope and Awedele markets expected to serve as alternatives to the soon-to-be demolished Erekesan Market.
Fayose’s predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, had wanted to demolish the market to build a new one but he was persuaded to put the plan in abeyance by Ado-Ekiti traditional rulers who wanted some sacred trees and shrines located in the market preserved.
Agric Olope Market was constructed by the Fayemi-led administration to be an alternative place in the event of the demolition of Erekesan Market. It was completed and allocated to traders but those to who shops were allotted did not move in there after they had paid the required fees.
The Fayemi administration also built the Awedele Neighbourhood Market in conjunction with the Oodua Investment Limited in order to reduce the pressure on the Erekesan Market and bring commerce nearer to the people.
As the demolition date approached, anxious traders began to remove their goods and other properties from the old market.
Fayose repeatedly announced that there won’t be an extension of date as some traders had demanded in view of the forthcoming Christmas season.
Many of them were pained that the market demolition was done few weeks to the Yuletide season. They had canvassed a shift of date to the middle of January next year to enable them to make some profits during the Christmas sales.
In spite of the passionate pleas, government’s bulldozers roared aloud and demolished the entire market. The skyline was covered with dust and the buildings and stalls were brought down one after the other.
Security agents, government officials, journalists, members of drivers’ union and other members of the public watched as the structures that had endured for a century were reduced to rubbles.
Commissioner for Works, Mr. Kayode Oso, told reporters that the demolition and excavation of the market premises would last for two weeks after which construction of an ultra-modern market with all the necessary facilities would begin.
He also assured that in 24 months, the market expected to cost N2 billion would be ready.
Oso said: “The project is already accepted by the people and would benefit them. The Oba and the Ewi- in-Council supports the project. Well-meaning and prominent Ekiti indigenes have all accepted it.
“Compensation was done in collaboration with market owners and in line with standards in the industry. About N360 million was expended on compensation to affected traders.
“The project will cost about N2 billion. It is going to be an elaborate shopping mall with many other facilities such as filling station, police station, motor parks and banks, among other social infrastructure.”
The Commissioner also assured that over 1,000 shop owners who have lost their shops to the reconstruction would have their shops back after completion of the project.
He further said: “We already have the list of those who have lost their shops and they would be taken care of. There would also be many other shops as we are going to have over 700 shops to be constructed in the mall.”
Some of the traders praised the efforts of the governor, saying he understands the needs of the common man.
Mr. Adeoye Adeyemi, popularly known as Oluomo Sketch in the market who sells shoes said: “Fayose is a good man and his tenure is good for us. This market is going to become better. God would continue to bless him. He should continue to remember us. We thank him for the great work he has done for us.”
Hon. Olasehinde Omotosho, former councillor of Ijoka Ward, Ado-Ekiti, said: “It is a welcome development. There is nothing we can do. The government has compensated the affected traders. We only need to thank His Excellency, because the project is for the good of the masses. It is not the first time this will be happening.
Source:The Nation