The Speaker of the 8th Kwara State House of Assembly, Prof. Ali Ahmad, has re-echoed the support of his party for the traders affected by the fences erected across some markets in the Ilorin metropolis by the Kwara State Government, adding that if elected governor, he will “do the needful right from the day one in office.”
He made the remarks while featuring as a guest on Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Harmony FM, Idofian, Kwara State, on Thursday evening, condemning the actions of the Kwara State Government for “blocking peoples’ source of livelihood without providing alternatives for them.”
The professor of constitutional law and legislative studies, while sympathising with the victims of Ita-Amodu, Saw-mill, and Ita-Nma markets inferno, assures the Challenge marketers that “the barricade fencing won’t stand a test of time.”
Professor Ali equally sues for calm, urging victims of the challenge market fencing to continue to endure the anti-people policy under the APC-led government in Kwara state.
He said, “Let me speak on the plight and concern expressed by prominent Kwarans on the raging issue of demolition and erection of fences across the marketplace, in particular the popular Challenge market in Ilorin. Without mincing words, I align with the position of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara, over the irresponsive demolition and erection of fences that is raging across markets in Ilorin metropolis, in the name of a new master plan and urban renewal by the state government.
“Which government keeps faithful to a master plan that remains irresponsive and anti-people? If it is indeed a policy, which I doubt its consistency, why can’t you operate this master plan with a human face? How will you go after your own people? Are we not representatives of our people again? Are we not expected to be a responsive government? Is the Kwara state government governing for a masterplan sake? If I may ask, what is the purpose of a master plan? Beautification?! Some people will say Kwara is now beautiful. Yes. But what about the livelihood of the citizens?.
“These are questions that stand difficult for every kwaran, including myself, to answer. When I heard about this radio programme, I insisted that I must participate to share my own view about the whole urban renewal policy by the incumbent Kwara Governor.”
Recall that the major opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Kwara State, has vowed to demolish fences erected by the administration of Governor AbudulRahman AbdulRahman, across some markets in the Ilorin metropmetropolis.
The PDP noted that the erection of the 12ft fences across some markets in the state is an economic sabotage carried out by Governor Abdulrasaq, asserting that the party will demolish the fences if elected in 2027 to salvage economic sabotage caused by the incumbent Kwara State Government.
Speaking further on the ongoing urban renewal policy by the Kwara State Governor, the ex-federal lawmaker expressed concern that the blockades remain an eyesore and inimical to the livelihood of young Kwara marketers.
“I paid a visit recently to the Challenge market in Ilorin where I met with the young traders to hear directly from them with regards to the erection of fences across their shops. It was an eyesore for me. The place is cramped, and the only reason that I have been hearing to justify this blockage of their shops is that it is in line with a so-called urban renewal and master plan. It is acceptable if it is in accordance with a master plan. But these are young Kwarans and not animals making their survivals there. These are human beings whose lives are dependent on this marketplace.
The ex-lawmaker cited the establishment of Shoprite Mall as one of the outstanding policies of the past administration under the Bukola Saraki-led government, saying that government should exist solely for the welfare of the people.
“So, if you have to do something that is untoward to the livelihood of your people, what are you doing to lessen the effect in respect to their welfare? What some of us are clamouring for is that the government exists solely for the welfare of the citizens. If you want to be faithful to a master plan, then you must provide an alternative for the people. Where is the alternative? I remember during Dr Bukola Saraki’s administration, there were cornershops that sprang up in GRA, and a lot of talks came in, and he came up with the Shoprite Mall.
“It is easy for the Kwara State Government to build wall, but it is difficult to engage the people affected—to know how many they are, what they need, what can the government do to help them survive and a lot of thoughts. This government is not willing to do that. Their concern is just to block them off and let them go to hell. Is this the government that is responsive?, ” he said.
The ex-speaker notes the strides under the former Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed-led government, asserting that the establishment of Harmony Hub, a tech-driven hub constructed by the former administration “was an intented project when the government is about to bring out a policy.”
“You see Harmony Hub, a tech-driven hub constructed by the former Governor AbdulFatai Ahmed, is one of those intended projects when you are about to bring out a policy. Before you even implement the policy, you know the fallout, so you build those things. Just forget about the past. There is no reason for comparison. You said the Challenge market is not good the way it was before but we have about 5000 shops there. The history of Challenge is dated back to General Adisa of the blessed memory. So if you destroy peoples means of livelihood and you don’t provide an alternative, I am telling you this building of walls across marketplaces will not stand. In history, walls do not stand the test of time.”
While reassuring his support for the marketers affected by the fencing, the academia-turned-politician said the demolition of blockades across the marketplace would be his first official assignment, if elected governor come 2027.
“It is irresponsive for the government to just see the criticism as non-existence. We don’t live for policy; we live for the welfare of the people. Everyone knows the hardship we are going through so you don’t add to it.
“The easiest thing for the governor to do if he believes that he is a governor of Kwara state, governing citizens of Kwara who had gone to banks and collected loan and trying to pay back loans and feed their family, he would cede the implementation of policy that will affect the people. He should have created an alternative for them instead. A comfortable alternative at that.
“Our great party, the PDP had said the wall can not stand a test of time. People like us, by the grace of God, if we are still living and become the governor of Kwara State, you know what? From May 29, 2027, as I am coming back from Metropolitan Square, I will branch at the Challenge market, and we will do the needful. This wall in the challenge market won’t stand a test of time more than thirty months by the grace of God,” he expressed.