Tension In Kano As Council Chairman Invades Kofar Ruwa Rod Market

The volatile city of Kano may soon be overwhelmed in yet another social
unrest if the chairman of Dala Local Government Area, Alhaji Suleiman Dan
Isli is not called to order over his insistence to destroy the original
master plan of Kofar Ruwa Iron and Rod market. Pointblanknews.com reports
that the chairman in his bid to displace iron traders in the multi-billion
Naira market decided to build lock-up shops against the existing ones.
Already, he has seized all the space designed for packing iron and rods in
the market as he has already commenced digging of foundation, closing all
entrances leading into the market, majorly occupied by Igbo traders.
Last Friday, the Dala Local Government chairman and his agents invaded the
market with hundreds of armed hoodlums, disrupting business; a situation
which caused stampede as traders hurriedly closed their shops for fear of
being attacked. As it is, Kofar Ruwa Iron and Rod Dealers Association
(KRIRDA) in Kano has has appealed to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to
intervene so as to save their business and also save Kano from being
engulfed by another round of crisis. Speaking to journalists at the market
on Sunday, KRIRDA President, Chief Anayochukwu Ike described as improper,
the decision of the chairman of Dala Local Government Area to build
lock-up shops in the frontage of their shops. According to him, carrying
out such project will not only disorganize the entire market, but will
also make it impossible for trailers bringing in their goods to have
access into the market, adding that the frontage of their shops remain the
only space they keep iron and rods.
According to him, even when the Council authorities insisted on erecting
the building, “we decided to discuss with them on the possibilities of
even buying the space so that peace can reign. At the initial stage, we
agreed with the Committee set up by the Council chairman that we would pay
N300, 000 for each space, but to our surprise, they came back and jacked
the money to N850, 000.” Chief Ike who said members of his association
pay all taxes and levies to the state and local government as at when due,
lamented that erecting another structure within the market means getting
them out of business.
“If there are plans to relocate us, they should come out clear and
explain to us. There is no way we can remain in this market with those
structures there, unless they have decided to get us out of business; may
be, because they don’t like our face. We have been in this market for a
very long time. We have maintained cordial relationship with the
authorities of Dala Local Government. We have been generating revenue for
the development of the Local Government and Kano state government. We now
wonder why they want to stampede us out of business,” Chief stated.
According to him, after exhausting all possible means of negotiation,
“when they remained adamant, we went to Court and got an injunction
restraining the Council authorities and their representatives from
erecting any structure within the market, but immediately the injunction
expired, they started digging holes in front of our shops. Last Friday,
they came with Yandabas (area boys), armed with arrows and knives as they
were digging foundation in front of our shops. That action brought serious
tension within the market and the entire state as many of us hurriedly
locked our shops and ran for dear life.”
Chief Ike said not even several appeals by the Assistant Inspector General
of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone One could stop Dala Local Government
chairman, Alhaji Suleiman Dan Isli from building illegal lockup shops in
the market, blocking shops and offices. He, however, appealed to Governor
Ganduje and other stakeholders and opinion leaders in Kano state to wade
into the matter and stop the erection of more structures in Kofar Ruwa rod
market, “because if they go ahead to build that shop, they have crippled
our markets.
“Besides, we all know the dangers inherent in jam-packed markets. We
don’t sell Cray fish, what we sell are iron and rods which are naturally
packed in open space, now if you come and block that space simply because
you want to generate revenue, how and where do we then pack our goods; we
are very much worried and we call on Governor Ganduje to use his good
office to save our business,” he appealed. Pointblanknews.com reports
that worse hit in the intrusion is the Aphamic Line of Kofar Ruwa rod
market where foundation were dug just in the front of peoples offices and
their goods exposed at the mercy of criminals.