Traders of the demolished Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market have received reprieve following an agreement between the landowners, the Olowu family, and the Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Mayor Dele Oshinowo.
The agreement, brokered after extensive negotiations with relevant agencies and law enforcement, stipulates that: The Olowu family will retain 60% of the 4.4 hectares of land, the LCDA will get 40% of the land. However, the LCDA still have their 26.6 hectares of land.
It was gathered that the judgement was gotten since 1998 with other subsequent judgements.
Oshinowo emphasized that the agreement was necessary to end the crisis and allow both parties to settle amicably.
Oshinowo revealed that they had a meeting where they agreed with the sharing formula. Those who attended were the Attorney general of Lagos state, the Solicitor general, GM-Physical Planning, as well as other relevant officials and the representative of the Olowu family, Barrister, D. A. Awosika (SAN).
Before, the compromise, the chairman said he had also gotten the Lagos state Governor involved who contributed in no small measure to the resolution.
He debunked allegations of orchestrating the market demolition and thugs attacking mobile policemen, stating that he went to the market with the head of RRS and left together.
He said: “ I have nothing to gain by demolishing the market. I thank God for the opportunity to serve. I have never demolished anything. People were spreading rumour that I orchestrated the demolition. I am not here to take over your market. I am doing what I am doing for posterity sake. My adversary thought I would contest. I am not contesting till 2027 God willing.
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The next step in this matter is for us to court for consent judgement.
“ On the allegation that I organised thugs to beat up Policemen stationed at the market is a lie. I went to the market with the head of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Jejeloye and we left together. The Lagos CP arrested four of the policemen without signal.”
The traders, led by Abiodun Ahmed, Chairman of Motor Spare Parts, Owode-Onirin, thanked Mayor Oshinowo for his efforts, expressing surprise at the extent of his commitment to protecting them.
Other market leaders, including Thaddeus Idaewor (chairman, Agbajowo Market and Wahab Islamideen, ( secretary, Iron, Owode – Onirin ) also appreciated the chairman’s efforts.
The market was previously demolished by officers of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) along with armed policemen and thugs, enforcing a court judgment against a section of the Agbajowo Market that shares a boundary with the Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts market.