The traders at the Shasa market in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital are now at loggerheads over the cash donation by Northern States Governors to support victims of the bloody clash, which led to loss of properties running into millions of naira.
The Governors were said to have donated the sum of N10million to the victims, but some of them faulted the sharing formula by the leadership of the market, alleging that the money does not get to the rightful beneficiaries
The aggrieved victims alleged that N2, 000 was given to each, arguing that this does not commensurate with the donated cash, and could not bail them out of the loss they suffered to the clash which claimed millions of properties.
One of the traders , Mrs Sekinat Adebisi whose shop got burnt during the incident said, she and some of her colleagues were surprised that, N2,000 was given them each, alleging that they have been shortchanged by the market leadership
“Some Governors came here and gave us money, but we were surprised when N2,000 was later giving to us by our leaders because our expectations was high, what can N2,000 do out of the goods worth millions of naira that was burnt from our shops’, she said
Mrs Idayat Ramon, who claimed she lost over N2.5 million goods to the incident, described the N2, 000 giving to her as ‘wickedness’ which cannot solve their problems.
The woman however appealed to government to come to their aide by giving them substantial financial support to start their businesses, saying that their means of livelihood has been cut short by the clash.
Baale of Shasa community, Chief Amusa Akinade while reacting to the allegation by the victims, explained that he and his chiefs never shortchanged any of the traders as claimed by them
The Baale explained that N10 million was actually donated by the Northern governors as a relief package, adding that the money was divided into three so that it can cut across all the victims, adding that those complaining are being mischievous and exhibiting traits of greed.
“Four million was given to us (Yoruba’s), four million was given to the Hausa section, while the remaining two million was given to the Seriki of Sabo. Out of our own N4 million, N10,000 each was given to 43 house owners whose house got burnt, and N2,000 was given to over 1,000 traders whose shop got burnt. Everybody was carried along in the disbursement of the money including the security personnel and all the youth groups, but there is nothing you can do to satisfied our people’, he said.
Akinade however applauded Governor Seyi Makinde for his quick intervention, calling on him to fulfill his promises on the renovation of the market and giving palliatives to the victims of the incident.
