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Okoli....returning to Ladipo auto parts market after four years

INTERVIEW: I’m returning to Ladipo auto market to make peace – Okoli

Mr. Jonathan Chibuzor Okoli is the President of Aguiyi Ironsi Tarders Unit at Ladipo Auto Market located in Matori Area of Lagos State. In this interview, he speaks on the crises rocking Ladipo Market, his ordeal with Mushin Local Government and why he has decided to return to the market, four years after staying away from business. Excerpts

Why did you stay away from the market all these years?

I am the former President of Aguiyi Ironsi International Market at Ladipo, Lagos. I am going back to the market because I am a businessman. Trade is my line of business. You know in the market, there are always market associations which traders belong. After elections in 2007, I won the elections as the President of the market. I inherited a problem because there were crises, ever before I became President. The crises really affected my line of business. In 2012, there were all kinds of attacks on the traders instigated by some powerful politicians in Lagos State. They were bent on taking away the leadership from the traders’ choice. They were court actions here and there and we were spending more as everyday was trouble. After almost 6 years of crises, I had an auto accident along Shagamu-Ijebu-Ode road which kept me away from the market for about 4 years. Since 2012, I have never stepped into the market. Now there is a new leadership in the market which is the choice of the Local Government Council. They imposed the leadership in the market against the will of the traders. I am going back to the market but I am not going to challenge them. I am going back to do my business and not to contest or fight anybody. I am going to my shop. In the market, I am one of the major stakeholders; I have a plaza with many shops at the Ladipo Market.

What efforts did the market association put in place for your well-being throughout the time you were away from the market? Were they concerned?

The traders were concerned because they know I have been of help to most of them. But all of them are afraid of their lives; you wouldn’t understand. When the powerful forces are against anything and you try to go against it, you are in trouble. Even sometimes, most of the traders don’t come close to me so that they will be free to do business in the market. Now, they have tasted another leadership for four years and they are complaining. They are even calling me every day, asking me to come back and rescue them. They feel for me but they cannot openly express that they are for me. Even when we went to Abuja for the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, concerning police brutality to traders; those who went with me to Abuja were messed up. They beat them mercilessly and they even sent them out of the market. I have advised them not to support me until I come back to the market. We will still be friends but let them stay and do their business.

Do you have any regret now, after fighting for the traders?

As it is now, I cannot fight for the people anymore. I used all my resources fighting for Ladipo traders which they are willing to pay me back. But the leadership said no, that they will not pay. However, I know they will pay because there are evidences. If I go to the court, I will get it back but I chose not to go to court because I want to make peace . However, when they are doing something in the market, I will still say something but not as active as before. I will only advise. Even the new Local Government Chairman, after listening to me recently, has asked me to work with them. He wants me to go back as the leader of the market but what I want is to go there as a godfather and whenever they need advice, I give them.

What is the relationship between the traders and the government?

I feel that the state government was misled by the former Local Government Chairman. They were misled by saying I was the cause of the crises. Why I stayed away for the four years is for Lagos State people to know that I am not the cause of the problem. They now know it because even after I left, the problem is still there. I inherited the problem. They only wanted to take the leadership by force. That was why I looked at it and said, let me move away from the market. Now, they have got what they want and there is still trouble in the market. Recently, I sent my manager to the market and when he came back, he told me that the market is no more what it used to be. Everywhere is now scattered as it is like a refugee camp. The co-developers is renting out any available space to the traders. Whereas, the beauty of the market used to be the open spaces where people can park and make use of. Now, there is no way. There are giving attachment here and there and people are complaining. There is nothing we can do about it because they have the government and politicians on their sides. Even the entire Ladipo environment is jam-packed. If you drive into Ladipo now, there is no space and they collect levies for Local Government. They are making money from the market without developing the market. That is the major problem we are having.

What is the way forward considering that Mushin now has a new Local Government Chairman?

One thing is this. The new Local Government Chairman spoke wisely and excellently when we discussed recently. He gave me confidence that he is a man of peace. In my presence, he told the other party that they are wrong in what they are doing. He told them openly that this man is your leader and you must work with him. Though, I am not interested whether they work with me or not. What I am interested in is peace. This is important because that is where I have properties; it is also where I feed my family. If there are crises, it is not helping the traders. It is only somebody who has nothing in the market, that will say, let’s fight. A person like me will not encourage any violence or fight in the market because it will affect me. The Local Government chairman is a man of peace and I believe he stands for peace. He made it clear to us that the governor does not want any problem in Lagos State. He encouraged us to make peace, emphasizing that the state wants peace everywhere. The Local Government Chairman has a role to play in Ladipo auto market crises because he has the authority to stand on what he wants. Again, any decision he takes, I believe is the way forward.

From your experience, what advice do you have for the traders?

On the side of the traders, if you are collecting money from a market, you must show some signs that the money is used for. I am a victim of conspiracy and instigation by the former Mushin Local Government Chairman. I am the only market leader in Ladipo that collects over N12million and give it to them. That is what I am facing at EFCC today. They squandered the money and when some group petitioned the EFCC, they asked me to leave the country and run away, I refused because they issued receipts of all the money I gave to them. They then used me as scapegoat. And because they didn’t manage the money well, they recorded only N3million which they paid into the LG coffers. Because of the problems in the market, the Commissioner of Police went and arranged the EFCC officials and I became a victim of what I don’t know about. The money we paid into account and they issued receipts. Why then are they charging me to court? You can see, when politicians are after you, they will do anything, anywhere to get you. I know I will win all of them in court, which I have won many. I am pleading with the Lagos State, Mushin LGA and all the authorities to look at Ladipo environs and do something for the traders because there is no road, drainage and it is very bad. If they do that, it will make the traders feel that they are part of them and have a sense of belonging. They can do it because they collect huge sums from the traders.

Now that you are going back to the market. Do you have any worries?

I am not worried about any threat because I know I am a very clean person. I don’t have anything against any trader and I know they will welcome me back. If they will hear that I am coming, I related with them like brothers and sisters. When there is trouble, you see them trooping here, calling me to come and mediate. Last year, they killed somebody. That shows Mr. Okoli is not the cause of the crises in Ladipo market. Some are still in Ikoyi prisons. They need assistance from people that matter.

It looks as if such crisis is peculiar to Ladipo Market. Is it so in other markets?

It is so but there are difference. Alaba International market has crises in form of leadership tussle within themselves. But in Ladipo, some people will go and say that Local Government gave them authority to collect revenue from the market and they will come and start misbehaving, collecting tolls anyhow. Our stand was that we are Igbo traders and we don’t do our association like Babalojas and every day, you come and ask for money from all the 32 units. We told them that we don’t operate like that. All the 32 units have Presidents. So, for one to come and start collecting money anyhow, what is the President doing there. We told them to empower traders to collect the money and remit to them. Until government addresses this, the problems will continue. It is better they address it now so that we don’t lose other lives. Some that are out in the prison are not happy; they are out now and tomorrow, they might like to fight back because they are instigating the crisis that is happening.

What is your line of business and how were you surviving all these years?

It is a tough challenge. Anybody at home must do something to survive. I thank God that I planned well when I was overseas. That is what is keeping me today. When you plan your life, you will always survive. I’m a business man and I deal in generators, trucks, buses, electronics and okada. Now that they have banned okada, I’m out of it. When they give me back my money, I will start importation. I’m not based here. I live in Japan and this problem has tied me down in the country for more than six years. I thank God I didn’t lose my life. You know these people, they ambushed me and tried to assassinate me.

As you are going back to the market, what is your advice to traders out there?

My message is so simple. I am coming with non-violence. I am coming back to do business. And those who feel I have offended them knowingly or unknowingly, they should sheath their sword. Let’s go back and do our business. Changing leadership is not by fight or attacks; it is only by voting. The vote shows what the people want.

Would you get involved in the market politics or take up any leadership position if they call you?

For now, I don’t think I have that in mind until they beckon on me and I see them. There are lots of backbiting in the market and most of them think you are making money. I will not be part of it and let me see how they are managing the market. They have been there for four years now and from what I am hearing, it looks as if they want to change them, I mean the leadership because they cannot protect the interest of the traders. I got into trouble because I was protecting the interest of the Ladipo Auto traders. The present leadership is weak, from what they are saying. If I knew what I know now, I will not fight for traders; rather I will just keep quiet or leave the market for them. You know I came back from overseas and wanted to do it right. But here when you challenge them, they use the state apparatus to fight you. Before, we had a relationship with police and military men, in case they buy goods from us. We used to sell goods to police and other force men but now the new leadership has warned all traders not to sell to force men because if they return it, you must return their money 100 percent. This is because they can’t do PR and protect the interest of the traders.

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