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Lagos 2023: Jandor vows not to close markets at slightest provocation

Lagos State PDP Governorship Candidate Dr. Abdul-Azeez Adeniran -Jandol(centre) in a group photograph with Alaba Amalgated Council of Sectional Heads during his visit to the market last Friday

..Visits INEC to chart improved PVC registration

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the 2023 Lagos Governorship Election, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adeniran, popularly known as Jandor has assured market traders in Lagos that when voted in as governor, closing of markets at the slightest provocation will be a thing of the past.

Jandor who last Friday paid a solidarity visit to the Alaba international Market over the disruption they experienced while participating in the ongoing Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in the area.

The PDP candidate who is also the coordinator, Lagos4Lagos movement frowned at the barbaric treatment the traders and other Lagosians went through when they put their businesses on hold to go in pursuit of thier PVCs.

He assured them that he will be with them during the registration for PVC, during collection and during voting; that he will stand with them against thuggery and molestations, stating that Lagos and Lagosians are not known for such unwholesome attitude.

On the arbitrary closure of markets at slightest altercation between traders in one hand and between governmemt and traders in the other hand, the governorship hopeful assured that such will not hold sway under him if elected governor in 2023.

Jandor recalls how her mother who was a trader and a devout Christian would strive daily to earn their daily meals from her sells, imagined what would be their fate when she comes back to tell them she could not sell because governmemt had closed the market.

“As a candidate who does not depend on anybody, I have come here today with all my leaders because I can’t hear what happened and sleep with “my too eyes” closed.

“We are talking about getting PVCs,

Why should anybody, for any reason be feeling jittery that you are getting your PVC?

“As far as we are concerned, we want as many people as possible to get their PVC, so that they can key-in in electing whoever they want to govern them in 2023.

“Mr Chairman and sectional market leaders of Alaba, am here to let you know that we have just nine months to elect a government that will not just be closing your markets at will, for the mere reason that something happened in the market.

“My mother was a trader, everytime she wakes up and say to me, am expecting a customer who will be bringing money from somewhere to buy.

“That’s what we will hope to live on that day, what will it amount to on getting to the market and discovered government has closed down the market, how do we survive?

“This government will not close your market at will. I have said to chairman, if there’s anything you have done wrong or anybody has done wrong within the market, rather than close the market, I will sanction the executive of the markets.

“I will not close your markets at will because people live their daily life on that. We just have few months to have that governor with a national intelligence; that governor you will proudly say, yes, that one in Alausa, we put him there not by a single individual.

“And that’s why we won’t allow anything that will prevent you from arming yourselves to choose who you want to be your governor and representatives in the state of Lagos.

“Am meeting the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) on Monday and also the Lagos State Police Commissioner.

“It’s time we put to rest this issue of intimidation of voters. this is why I have come to let you know we are with you on this journey, to let you know, it’s your right to go and register to vote.

“The little window that is available, i have said to my people, we are going to do all possible to support this market and other markets in Lagos,” Jandor posited.

L-R: Dr Jonathan, Mbonu speaking and Jandor

Earlier, the President, Alaba Amalgamated Council of Sectional Heads(AACSH), Hon Geoffrey Mbonu, thanked the leader of Lagos4Lagos movement, Jandor and his team for coming to identity with them.

He thanked the PDP candidate for promising to meet Lagos REC and police Commissioner on thier behalf, assured him of their unalloyed support.

Mbonu said, “Your excellency, we thank you on this august visit. Even as impromptu as it is, you can see the presence of all sectional heads here and the reception given.

“We are ever ready, anytime; any day, we are well organized.

“when I saw the seriousness of our people to get their PVCs, I had to call meeting of Alaba Amalgamated Council of Sectional Heads here in this office, we agreed to close the market for our people to register and get thier PVC.

“I will put the blame on INEC, they don’t have enough staff, and not enough machines. I had called press conference in that respect.

“Our people want to vote but the concern is that there are no registration points here.

“We are happy that you said you are making more efforts, I will be with you to achieve this goal. Also other meaningful Nigerians are with you in this laudable cause.

“Please help us talk to INEC officials, tell them that our people are ready.

Gbenga Ogunleye, moderating

“I don’t know what you people are doing about extension. It was one of the things I stated in my press conference, we are appealing on INEC to extend the deadline to more months may be to August to enable our people come out en mass and register.

“They are registering. Some people went all the way from Ojo to Tafawa Balewa Square(TBS), to go and get registered, it’s a welcome development, we have never seen it like this before.

Other sectional heads of the market as Alhaji Buba Mohammed, Public Relations Officer of the association; Hon Oyedeji Olaleye, Cheif Security Officer; Nze Marcel Okezue, Chairman, Electrical Dealers Association; Hon Chukwudi Ogbodo, Chairman, Industrial Material Dealers Ass & Taskforce Amalgamated, Chairman among other took turn to speak and pleaded with the governorship hopeful not to neglect them as has been the bane of Nigerain politics when they eventually win and secure power.

Mohammed on behalf of other AACSH heads reminded him that most of them are no longer strangers as they were born in the area and have contributed immensely to the GDP of the state.

The coordinator, Ndigbo for Lagos4Lagos Movement, Dr. Jonathan Nnaji, in his comment urged Nigerian to go and get thier PVC to be able to exercise thier franchise.

It will be recalled that Adeniran had given his words to the traders that he will not treat them as strangers, he stated thus, “Am here as the candidate of PDP in Lagos, as somebody coming to take over power in 2023. Am here to bring breath of fresh air come 2023, to come and identify with you, and to assure you that you are not strangers.

“The wealth, that beauty of Lagos; that economy that makes it centre of attention of Nigeria wouldn’t have been possible without the contribution of Alaba International market.”