'Why we back Tinubu, APC men in 2027'
Traders in Alaba International market, the biggest electronics and electrical market in Africa, have declared support for the second term ambition of President Bola Tinubu and all All Progressives Congress (APC), candidates for 2027.
Speaking in an interview with reporters, President General of Alaba International Amalgamated Council of Sectional Heads, the umbrella body of all associations in the market, Chief Camilus Amajuoyi, said the founding fathers and traders have resolved to change their voting pattern.
According to him, over the years, the parties they have been voting for have not been of any help to them.
He said they are living in Lagos, doing their businesses in Lagos, their children are living in Lagos and their property are also in Lagos, adding that common sense demands that they should align with the party in power in Lagos State.
Speaking, he said: “… For more than 12 years now, traders in Alaba International market have been voting differently from the party in power in Lagos State.
“Because of that, we are seen or perceived as people in the opposition. With our huge population, we have more than one million registered members. As you know, politics is a game of number. We have voted in federal and State House members in Ojo Federal Constituency. But at the end of the voting season, these candidates would not come back to say thank you or show any appreciation. Even the dividends of democracy from the people we voted into office, we don’t see. So, we are victims of use and dump by the political parties and candidates that we have been voting for. That is the reason I said at the beginning that Alaba International traders have woken up,” he said.
Amajuoyi added that not voting for the party in power in the last election had its consequences but it is all in the past.
“The effect is natural. By not voting for the party in power in Lagos State, we are being denied a lot of things. All the things that we are supposed to get from the government of Lagos State were not forthcoming. For example, all the trunk C roads in Ojo Local Government has been tarred or interlocked and every street has been reconstructed or rehabilitated, but the road that links to Alaba from Ojo-Igede to Ajangbadi has been left out without attention even at our pleas to the Governor, Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Works.
“The revenue that Lagos State and Ojo Local government including the Federal Government make from Alaba International market is more than enough to tar the road that leads to the market, but the reverse is the case because we are seen as people in the opposition and enemies of government.
“On the part of the traders, we are losing hundreds of millions of naira because of the dilapidated state of the road. When they clear our containers at the ports, when they get to Alaba road, the containers would fall and the goods would waste. Mind you most of us borrow money from banks to import. When that happen, whatever was used for collateral would be confiscated by the banks and before you know it, traders that were controlling hundreds of millions of naira would become bankrupt. Some even become sick and die because of the pressure and frustration. We have continually appealed to the Lagos State government to link the Alaba road to the Alabarago road to ease the traffic, but after series of promises, it has not been done,” added Amajuoyi,
In addition, Amajuoyi noted some reasons why traders in Alaba are equally affected in building structure adjustments.
“We have suffered series of demolition in Alaba, ranging from shops to plazas in the name of the property being defective or distressed. But when you look very well, you would see that the plazas and shops were built not more than two years ago which means they are solid and strong. Then you begin to wonder what is happening. We have also succeeded in building a clinic in Alaba and have pleaded with the government of Lagos State to help us equip it, but up till now nothing has been done. We have written several letters to the government on that, but to no avail. Well, when you are in the opposition, a lot of things that are not too palatable would be happening to you. So, that is the situation that we have found ourselves by voting for other political parties.
“Having said that, it is the reason we decided that we must change our voting pattern. With all that we are going through, none of those people that we have voted into power either in the past or in the present has come to our aid. The same thing with the political parties that they used as platforms to win the elections. The only party that has started showing concern is the All Progressives Congress (APC).They have started fixing the road that lead from Masafejo, Ilufe to Chemist bus stop. Also they have come to survey Ojo-Igede road (Olojo Drive), and they have also assured us that if we vote for them, all that we are requesting from them would be met. The party candidate for the forthcoming local government election, Hon. Muhabat TitilolaRufai has assured us that if we vote her into office ,she will personally take us to Alausa for our demands to be met,” Amajuoyi said.
Continuing, he stated: “The founding fathers of Alaba International market, the presidents of sections, the leaders and stakeholders of Alaba International have resolved that henceforth, all the traders will be voting for the party in power in Lagos State. We have realized our mistakes and we are joining the APC party for the benefit of traders at Alaba. We are living and doing our businesses in Lagos. Our children schools in Lagos and our property are in Lagos. So, common sense demands that we should work with the party in power in Lagos State, so that our plights and other problems would be attended to.
“As the council election is drawing near, we are pleading with the party to continue with the tradition of using an Igbo person as a vice chairman in Ojo. We have absolute confidence in the leadership of the chairman of APC in Lagos State, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi. We also want to use this opportunity to appreciate the amiable and resourceful governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat for the way they are transforming the state into a smart city. We are assuring them of our unalloyed support and loyalty,” Amajuoyi concluded.
