A former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Barr Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli has condemned the attack on innocent butchers at the Bodija market, Ibadan which led to the death of citizens adding that it was a travesty of justice considering that a case over the relocation of the market is pending before a competent court of law.
Condemning the dastardly act against the people in Ibadan through his Media aide,Comrade Taiwo Ibrahim,the former Secretary to the State Government wondered why the lives of people have no value again and that of material development is taking precedence.
Alli, a 2019 gubernatorial hopeful in the state lamented the use of force in dealing with harmless people who, in a decent society, have a reserved right, to peaceful protest against any policy that does not go down well with them.
“There cannot be an end to dialogue,” Alli contended, “while the government has a duty to formulate a new policy to change the status quo, yet the same government has the primary responsibility to protect the citizens and make sure that lives that the policies are intended should be utmostly protected.
“Besides,this policy in question where the livelihood of hundreds of people will be taken away from them without a due consideration to the consequences especially in a society where people are losing their jobs on daily basis leaves much to be desired.”
Alli said it is becoming unthinkable that Oyo State government under the leadership of Sen Abiola Ajimobi has finally become a commercial centre for personal friends turned consultants where every system is contracted out even to foreigners who have no knowledge of our social settings at all.
“Markets and abattoir,” stressed Alli “are the constitutional responsibilities of the local governments, with the new policy of the APC government in Oyo State,local councils have been finally castrated.
“It is unfortunate that the so called consultants are bastardising every system,we can recall that they have kept many teachers and civil servants out of their jobs in the last three years because they are ignorant of the system,a Moses will surely come to judgement”
Alli expressed his sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives to brutal dictatorship and urged the Ajimobi led government to embrace dialogue and prevent further loss of life.
