Aleshinloye Market: Traders Cry Out Over Illegal Demolition Plot, Seek Gov Makinde’s Intervention

A wave of anxiety has swept through the historic Aleshinloye Market as hundreds of traders cry out over a looming demolition exercise allegedly planned by the Chairman of Ibadan South West Local Government, Hon. Tajudeen Adigun Adeniyi (popularly known as ATU). Describing the move as a threat to their survival, the business owners have launched a desperate appeal to Governor Seyi Makinde, warning that the forceful removal of their shops would amount to an “economic genocide” against thousands of families.

​The traders, through a petition filed by Chief (Barrister) Olawale Ojoge-Daniel of the Ojoge-Daniel Foundation for Human Rights and Conflict Mediation, have described the move as a blatant violation of their constitutional rights.

​The protest moved from the streets to the airwaves on Monday, as several market men and women appeared live on Almond F.M 93.3 to voice their grievances. During the broadcast, the embattled traders shared emotional accounts of the impending injustice, arguing that the forceful eviction would destroy thousands of livelihoods without any legal justification.

​The outcry centers on reports that the local government intends to forcefully evict shop owners, many of whom claim to hold valid tenancy agreements extending as far as 2028 and 2030. According to the traders, any attempt to terminate these subsisting tenancies through administrative fiat rather than the rule of law constitutes an illegal act of self-help.

​“In a constitutional democracy, the position of the law is unambiguous,” the petition stated. “A valid and subsisting tenancy cannot be terminated by self-help or administrative fiat. Any attempt to do so outside due process is an affront to established legal principles.”

​The situation at the market is reportedly grim, with many shop owners already suffering from the psychological and financial trauma of previous fire incidents and partial demolitions. Local leaders have warned that the proposed exercise could lead to a complete breakdown of law and order, as the market serves as the primary economic lifeline for thousands of families in the state capital.

​The legal representative appealed directly to Governor Seyi Makinde, urging him to uphold Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates that the security and welfare of the people be the government’s primary purpose.

​“This SOS is a direct appeal for urgent intervention to prevent a breakdown of law, order, and economic stability. Governor Makinde is respectfully urged to step in immediately, halt any proposed unlawful demolition, and ensure that the rights and dignity of the affected traders are protected,” the statement added.

​As at the time of this report, the Ibadan South West Local Government Chairman, Hon. Tajudeen Adigun Adeniyi, has yet to issue an official response to the allegations. Meanwhile, the market remains on edge, with traders vowing to protect their livelihoods while awaiting a definitive word from the Governor’s office.