A former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, has called on clerics across religious divides to raise their voices to God for mercy, protection and success of all traders in Ibadan and indeed other parts of the state.
Alli made the call following the news that some Bodija Market traders lost their lives on their way to Bida, Niger State in the early hours of Monday.
Alli, a former Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, in a condolence letter personally signed by him to market leaders in Bodija and Sango plank market, where a midnight inferno last Friday wrecked havoc on the shops in the market, said: “That these sad events occurred in quick succession in this new year call for prayers of religious leaders and self-spirited members of the public.”
The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain said: “It saddens my heart on hearing of the latest accident on Bida Road. That our people were involved made it more sorrowful because they were going on the business trip to make ends meet. I join your executive in mourning their demise and pray God to put an end to this incident. May we all have reasons to succeed in the task ahead of all of us this new year and beyond. I pray that those left behind shall receive the favour of God for protection and blessings.”
And to the Sango Plank market leaders, Alli wrote: “This is one accident too many going be the past experience. I join the league of the affected people there to call on all our clerics to pray fervently for a definite stop to future occurrence. It is well with all our market men and women in Ibadan and indeed across the length and breadth of this great state. May we not have cause to be sorrowful this year and beyond, amen.”
Alli called on the traders, especially their executives, to key into Insurance policies to mitigate future losses, just as he tasked them to pray for a government with human face in a way that “emergencies and matters of urgent public importance can always receive Government’s timely intervention wherever and whenever they occur”.