Lagosians Lament Shutdown Of Markets Over APC Rally In The State

By Akinwale Kasali

Lagosians has condemned the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State for imposing a total closure of markets in the State due to the APC Presidential Campaign Rally that took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

All markets in the State were under lock and key due to the APC Campaign that also halted vehicular movements  in the Surulere area of the State and on the Island.

In what has become a norm in the State anytime the APC is staging a campaign for its Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the APC Governorship Campaign for its Candidate, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu who is seeking re-election, everywhere was shut down.

Lagosians who had planned to go to the markets to get foodstuffs saw their hope dashed as the markets were not opened leading to unpleasant reactions.

This was also the lot of commercial drivers and commuters who were stranded due to the heavy traffic that saw the State on a standstill.

Though there was restrictions to movements in some part of the State with movement and transportation advisory released by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation and the APC, but that did not have any cushioning effect.

Lamenting at the popular Ile Epo market in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State were some people who had come to the market to purchase foodstuffs only to see the markets locked without prior notice.

Helen Attah never had the premonition that she will return home without getting the foodstuffs she had planned to get as her hopes was dashed on getting to the market.

A frustrated Attah lambasted the APC Government for not being considerate, saying that they don’t have the interest of people at heart.

“This is appalling and sad, how could you forcefully Impose this on this market women Whose livelihood depends on this. I wasted money coming to the market to buy foodstuffs for the weekend, only to arrive and see that this APC government has locked the market”.

A market woman who pleaded anonymity said the market heads threatened that everyone of them must attend the APC Presidential Campaign Rally or else they will face the wrath.

She added this was the main reason the market was locked to force the market women to go to the campaign ground.

This scenario was what played out weeks back when the Chairman of Lagos Parks and Gardens, Musiliu Akintunde popularly known as MC Oluomo staged a One-Million march for the Presidential Campaign Rally for Tinubu and Governor Sanwo Olu, in which all the market women that sell in the park that were nor present at the Rally were fined heavily, while some were sent away from the parks and markets.