Traders and market operators affected by the recent Oranyan market inferno in Ibadan, Oyo State, have expressed appreciation to the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Bimbo Adekanbi, for what they described as his humane, humble and non-politicised response to their plight.
Adekanbi, who visited the affected traders to sympathise with them over the devastating fire incident, received a rousing welcome from the market community, with traders describing his intervention as a demonstration of the traditional Yoruba values of Omoluabi ethos encapsulated in character, humility, empathy and responsibility towards others.
It was gathered that for many of the affected traders, the destruction goes beyond the physical loss of shops and merchandise. It represents the loss of daily income, savings, investments and, in some cases, the economic foundation of entire families.
Against this backdrop, Adekanbi’s pledge of building materials was received not merely as a political gesture but as immediate assistance towards helping affected traders regain their livelihoods.
The APM governorship candidate, during the visit, pledged to support the reconstruction of the market by donating building materials to assist the affected traders in rebuilding their shops and businesses.
The pledge came against the backdrop of the extensive destruction caused by the inferno, which reportedly left several shops and goods worth millions of naira destroyed, throwing many traders whose livelihoods depend entirely on the market into economic uncertainty.
Adekanbi had earlier in his address, offered to mobilise a bulldozer to the market to assist in clearing the debris and rubble left behind by the fire.
However, the affected traders declined the offer, explaining that although the immediate clearing of the site was desirable, the exercise could create fresh controversies over the identification and location of individual shops after the rubble had been removed.
The traders reportedly expressed concern that clearing the entire site mechanically without first resolving issues surrounding the original positions of individual shops could make it difficult for operators to identify their spaces and could potentially generate disagreements among affected stakeholders.
Respecting their position, Adekanbi accepted the traders’ concerns and instead committed himself to providing building materials to support the reconstruction process.
The gesture was welcomed by the traders, who said the APM candidate had demonstrated an understanding of the peculiar challenges confronting them rather than imposing a solution on them.
Speaking during the visit, some of the traders, mostly women, who spoke in their native Yoruba language, lamented what they described as attempts by certain politicians to turn the tragedy into an avenue for political gains.
According to them, some political visitors had earlier arrived at the scene with heavy security personnel, an approach they said heightened tension and created unnecessary panic among already traumatised shop owners and market operators.
The traders said that, having lost their businesses and possessions to the fire, what they needed most was empathy, reassurance and practical assistance rather than an atmosphere that could further frighten or unsettle them.
They contrasted such experiences with Adekanbi’s approach, describing his visit as calm, respectful and focused on the immediate needs of the victims.
The affected traders repeatedly expressed their appreciation to him for what they considered a departure from the conventional approach to political visits, stressing that he came to listen to them and understand their problems before proposing assistance.
One of the traders described Adekanbi as a true Omoluabi, saying his conduct during the visit reflected the Yoruba ideal of a person who places humanity, respect and compassion above political considerations.
The traders also prayed for the success of Adekanbi’s governorship ambition, asking God to grant him the wisdom, strength and opportunity to serve the people of Oyo State.
The Oranyan inferno has however, renewed concerns about the vulnerability of markets and other densely populated commercial areas to fire outbreaks, particularly the economic consequences for small-scale traders who often have little or no insurance protection.
Adekanbi was accompanied by the executive chairman of Ibadan North East Local Government, Hon. Ibrahim Akintayo and other political leaders in the state.