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The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria(ALGON), on Wednesday visited the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, to commiserate with him over the inferno that razed the Akesan market on Sunday.
Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye who led the chairmen expressed sadness over the incident, describing it as a tragedy. He noted that the market is very historic and important to the people of Oyo State and Yoruba at large, and expressed regrets over goods and other valuable items that were lost to the fire that razed the market.
“While we identity with ourselves and share from the pains of the direct victims of this regrettable and unfortunate calamities, we appeal to Oyo State government to be proactive and prioritise its agenda to conform with the dictate of the people’s needs and exigencies of environmental condition. Government should always be proactive in the provision of equipment for rapid response to any form of emergencies. The sad lesson with the unfortunate outbreak of the fire incidence at the Akesan market in is that it is high time the government of Oyo State led by Engr. Seyi Makinde sat up to face the real task of governance including the provision of Emergence Response Facility to forestall such unfortunate scenario in the future in various parts of the state,” Abass-Aleshinloye said.
Speaking, Oba Adeyemi expressed his appreciation to ALGON over the visit, describing them as illustrious sons who cherished his fatherly role and sympathised with him during this period.
The monarch said the incident was very painful because of the importance of the market as the King’s market.