Market Fire: Oyetola Commiserates With Victims, Calls For Caution

Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has commiserated with the victims of the fire incident at Oja-Oba market that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, in Osogbo.

Oyetola urged the citizens to prioritize personal and collective safety as part of efforts to forestall possible disasters as the dry season is approaching.

The governor made the statement during his on-the-spot assessment of the site of the inferno at the popular Oja-Oba market, Osogbo, the state capital.

It was reported that a section of the market was razed by fire around 1:00 am on Tuesday where valuable property and personal belongings of the occupants of the affected shops were lost in the incident.

Addressing journalists shortly after the inspection and assessment of the level of damage caused to the incident, Governor Oyetola expressed deep grief just as he thanked God that no life was lost to the incident.

Governor Oyetola who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Wole Oyebamiji alongside his Chief of Staff, Dr Charles 'Diji Akinola, and cabinet members, described the incident as unfortunate.

"Mr Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola is not around now but he has requested that a powerful delegation must come to commiserate with the affected market men and women, most importantly the Iyaloja and Babaloja of this market and that is why we are here.

"Mr Governor sympathises with the victims and prays that an incidence of such will not reoccur.

"As you all know, our Governor is always concerned about the welfare and comfort of the citizens and as soon as he comes back, he will make a statement.

"So, on behalf of himself and the good people of Osun we commiserate with the victims and entire members of the market community", he added.

Speaking, one of the occupants of the affected shops, Kudirat Ganiyu Sande, said they couldn't trace the source of the fire to anything as they all suddenly saw the fire when it started. 

She narrated that the fire incident started around 1:00 am on Tuesday and lasted two hours before it was eventually quenched by firefighters. 

Sande, however, appealed to the government to come to their aid as they couldn't give an exact assessment of the worth of the valuables lost to the fire incident at the moment.

Also, Iyaloja of the market, Wosilatu Kasali, expressed deep sorrow over the incident just as she appealed to the government and well-meaning citizens to support the victims and the market community.

Meanwhile, the members of the Governor's delegation after the assessment of the site moved to the Ataoja's palace to identify and commiserate with the monarch, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun.

At the palace, Oba Olanipekun appreciated Governor Oyetola and his government for taking the welfare and general well-being of the people of the state as a priority.

He further lauded the Governor for the show of concern over the recent fire incidences in Osogbo, saying the move was indeed a reflection of his administration's commitment to the welfare of the people of the ancient town.

The monarch however called on his subjects to take precautions as the dry season is fast approaching saying this would further help to prevent such ugly incidence in the future.