Oyo State House of Assembly has urged the State Government to consider the possibility of relocating the Shasha commodities market to a new and bigger site following the clash between Yoruba and Hausa traders.
The House made the suggestion on Tuesday while deliberating on the urgent need for the State Government to intervene in the recurring clashes between Yoruba and Hausa traders at Shasha Market, Ibadan .
Hon Olatunde Kehinde (Akinyele 2) who brought the matter before the House recalled with bitterness how lives were lost and properties destroyed during the clash , and said it was disappointing that the security operatives were slow in responding to the crisis.
The Lawmakers in their resolutions noted that the present place where the Market is located can no longer accommodate the number of traders and the volume of goods in the market hence Government should consider moving the Market to a new area.
Members also urged the State Government to set up a panel of enquiry to ascertain the cause or causes of the clash with a view to prosecuting those responsible for the mayhem.
The House further called for a security Summit in all Constituencies across the State to enable stakeholders to appraise and address the current situation and suggest ways of averting future security crises.
The Nigerian Police and other Security Agencies were equally asked to be more proactive in responding to conflict situations to prevent such from degenerating into full blow crises.
The Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin said it was unfortunate that the crisis was not well managed by the Hausa and Yoruba indigenes at the market.
Hon Ogundoyin said the rising spate of insecurity across the State demands that the various security agencies rise up to the challenge.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon Muhammad Fadeyi, Hon Adebayo Babajide (Ibadan North 2), Hon Dele Adeola (Iseyin, Itesiwaju) and the Majority Leader Hon Sanjo Adedoyin commended the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde for his commitment to the protection of lives and properties of the citizenry, while also appealing to Security Agencies especially the Nigerian Police to go back to their duty posts.
According to the lawmakers including Hon Ayo Fatokun (Akinyele 1), Hon Francis Adetunji (Oluyole) ,Hon Isiaka Tunde (Oyo East West) and Hon Owolabi Olusola (Ibadan North East 2), there is the need for security agencies to strategize so that crises will be nibbed in the bud before they occur.
Others like the Minority Leader, Hon Asimiyu Alarape, Hon Seyi Adisa (Afijio), Hon Simeon Oyeleke (Ogo Oluwa,Surulere) called for caution in handling the present insecurity situation across the State.
