The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and his son, Prince Akeem Adeyemi, who represents the town in the House of Representatives, as well as the caretaker chairman of Oyo East local government, Prince Saheed Arowosaye, AROSAD, have visited Akesan market which was razed by midnight inferno early today.
The visibly sad monarch who was conducted round the market, whose over 1,000 shops were affected expressed sadness.
This is just as he promised to liaise with relevant agencies to ensure victims are provided with succor.
His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyemi III, Alaafin of Oyo on the spot assessment of the inferno that razed the main market in Oyo Metropolis, Akesan Market in the early hours of today,
Alaafin expressed deep shock over time the loss of the entire market.
The Alaafin, who was in company of his son and other eminent personalities, and received by the Iyaloja of Oyo, Alhaja Peju Bakare, Arowosaye, could not hide his grief by the monumental loss.
He commiserated with all Oyo indigenes “because these losses touched every household in Oyo both directly and indirectly.”
While also praying God to avert such occurrences in the future, the monarch called on the government, both at the state and federal, to come to the aid of Oyo people “as this loss would impact negatively on the economy of Oyo Metropolis and its environs.”
Hon. Akeem Adeyemi would later write on his Facebook.
Akesan Market Inferno
The news of Akesan Market fire disaster came to me as a rude shock. It was the least of bad news I expected at this moment.
After I was appropriately briefed, I had to suspend all my engagements in Abuja and took the next available flight to Ibadan. I placed few calls to some concerned stakeholders on ways to ameliorate the plights of the people of Oyo Federal Constituency.
I got to Oyo amidst tears and lamentation from victims and sympathisers on the extent of their losses. I felt pained on the failure of the institution saddled with the responsibility of quelling any fire disaster in Oyo State.
You will recall that, exactly this time last year, a section the Market was gutted by fire, where property worth of millions was lost. All hands must be on deck to nip this awful occurrence in the bud. Oyo State Fire Service must be alive to its responsibilities.
The Alaafin of Oyo and other stakeholders in Oyo have paid an on-the-spot to have a firsthand assessment on the level of damage to the razed Akesan Market.
I, as the honourable representing the good people of Oyo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, have toured the market square and promised the victims that the federal government will give all the needed support to obviate their sufferings. I have also informed the Speaker, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila on the sad incident.
In this regard, here are some envisaged measures to be put in place:
A – I will reach out to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in a bid to ensure a swift response and provision of relief materials to the victims of Akesan Market fire disaster.
B – I will move a motion, urging the Federal Fire Service to always be on red alert, as soon as the House resumes with adequate legislative inputs through the House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness.
C – Also, in the motion, I will sue for the establishment of a Federal Fire Service in each of the 360 federal constituencies or in the 109 senatorial districts of the federation.
May we never experience such a disaster again. God bless the good people of Oyo Federal Constituency. Oyo o ni baje o.
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