Shops that reportedly belonged to Igbo traders were locked for hours as the hoodlums, some of whom were seen with all sort of dangerous weapons threaten to deal with anyone who was bold enough to open the shops.
Though the police were present, they were unable to do much to quell the fire and tension in the atmosphere, in the end, the law enforcement agents were able to restore order and life went back to normal later in the day.
However, the effect of that action is still being felt and it has been condemned by several persons across Nigeria. One of the major suspects in the fracas was the national treasurer of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), MC Oluomo, the notorious Lagos area boy who is believed to have mobilise the hoodlums.
MC Oluomo is said to be in the payroll of the ruling APC and he is said to be obeying the orders of his paymasters who ordered him to intimidate the traders following the result of last weekend’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in which the PDP performed better than expected.
Some Witness of the event stated that the disruption was perpetrated by boys loyal to MC Oluomo, however, the NURTW chieftain has denied the report, stressing that his boys were not involved in the fracas.
In a meeting in Oshodi which is believed to have been instigated by the Governorship candidate of the APC, Jide Sanwo-Olu, MC Oluomo stated that he was always for peace in the area and has promoted peace among all tribes living and working in Oshodi.
Groups who attended the meeting stated agreed to continue to live in peace and harmony, the Igbo traders in the area were also promised protection.
On the same matter, the Governorship candidate of the APC, Jide Sanwo-Olu took his campaign to computer village which is largely populated by Igbo traders, Sanwo-Olu while meeting with market leaders, assured the Igbo traders of that their safety is guaranteed and they can go about their lawful businesses with any form of molestation.
The APC candidate also assured the traders of his commitment to improving the facility in the area if elected.
“The government will make it a point of duty that prepaid meter is given to everyone and no more estimated bill. This place is the biggest computer village in the world. We have potential here, Facebook can come out from here likewise Google,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“What the government is supposed to do is to sit with your leaders and find out what the problems are and look for solutions to it. Government is for everyone. Together we are stronger like brothers and sisters, Sanwo-Olu said,” he added.
Some of the leaders in the area made their feeling known to the APC candidate, they welcome the interactive session and highlighted their support for the APC led government in the state.
One of such speakers is the President, Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (PAPDAN), Mr Godfrey Nwosu who thanked Sanwo-Olu for his kind words.
“I believe in going forward after the event of today. A lot of us have moved on because basically speaking, there is an adage that says where your treasure is, that is where your heart lies.
“We are business people and we have to do things that would benefit us with our business. We do not want situations where policies will impede our business,” Nwosu said.
“We live in Lagos; most of us were born here, grew up here and married here. So it is time to extend a hand of fellowship so that Nigeria will be better for it,” he added.
On his part, the President of the Yoruba Forum, Mr Tunde Aremu, state that the purpose of the meeting was to allow the APC candidate to interact and identify with the market leaders.
“This is an interactive session between the Igbos, Computer Village and Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He is somebody we will like to work with and by God’s grace we pray that he gets the victory,’’ he said.
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