DAZZLING: See new look Oja'gbo Market Ogbomoso - Traders hail Soun

DAZZLING: See new look Oja’gbo Market Ogbomoso – Traders hail Soun

Femi OGUNLANA

Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III

The Oja’gbo Market Ogbomoso, Oyo state, is wearing a new beautiful look, courtesy of the Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III.

The renovated upgraded market, conceived by Oba Olaoye, was constructed by the Balogun-elect of Ogbomosoland, High Chief Dr Saka Adegbite Balogun.

The construction came off a brilliant, selfless idea by the monarch who introduced a radical innovative idea to chieftaincy installation aimed at harnessing resources of chieftaincy prospects towards community development.

The novelty concept steers away from the usual practice of a traditional ruler receiving financial gratification from prospective chiefs; rather Oba Olaoye’s new direction is to have such persons commit resources to community development projects. This has been widely applauded as a progress stimulating conception arising from a liberal spirit that embodies collective good rather than parochial interest.

The upgrade of the ancient Oja’gbo Market located at the heart of Ogbomoso, a stone throw from the Soun Palace opposite the Central Mosque, will go down in record as the pioneer in the demonstration of the concept, which has come out excellent.

Dr Saka Adegbite Balogun, a revered community leader and politician, and chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP Advisory Council in Oyo state, now also has the distinguished honour of being the earliest executor of the New Order. Though this came with initial resistance as there were queries as to why should he face such obligation, some even asked, “Did anyone demand Oba Ghandi build anything before he was installed as Soun?” It generated lots of furore, but the visionary Oba stood his ground. “I don’t want your money, l am contented with what I have but rather than taking money from you and seeing you committing millions in naira or dollars to partying after the installation ceremony, divert that money to community development. By the time you commit funds to benefit the whole community you will have less for celebration or inviting musicians, but if you still want to do that, so be it,” Oba Ghandi reasoned.

Dr Saka Balogun

Dr Balogun succumbed after the intervention of the Oyo state’s governor Engr Seyi Makinde, and today value has been added to the city. It’s remarkable. “It has resulted in praise.” The beauty of that corner of the town has been enhanced. “It’s little little bit of developments like this that will change the physical outlook of the city aesthetically,” a commentator, Adekunle Oyelade, told ogbomosoinsightonline.com.

Mrs. Tawakalitu Babatunde, a meat seller at the market, speaking with ogbomosoinsightonline.com, Saturday, expressed joy. “We are very grateful to our Kabiyesi, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III and we thank the Baba (Saka Balogun) that was asked to build it. God will continue to bless them and give them further enablement. They will live long by God’s grace.”

Tawakalitu Babatunde

Mrs. Babatunde is extremely happy to say the least, as she added, “Now toilet is constructed in the market, which we didn’t have before and we now have borehole. And there are now shops, some of us had containers previously but shops have been built, and we have been promised we would be given the shops, the whole place is decent and well laid out.”

Also, Mr. Kamarudeen Ajao Oyelola, a goat meat seller who has been trading at the market for over 30 years, registered his gratitude admitting initially the traders had fear when the idea was first mooted. “But with what we are seeing we are happy, we thank government, we appreciate the Oba and Baba Saka Balogun. It has turned out well,” appealing that the promise to allocate the shops and stalls to previous occupiers be adhered to.

Kamarudeen Ajao Oyelola

The upgraded market

It is a master architectural piece. Decent. Expertly painted with red roofs that makes it alluring, It contains 24 open-sided cubicles in four rows (six each row) to use as stalls, with well-laid out aisles, a column of five standard shops behind the cubicles, electrification complete with electrical sockets, ground gilded with interlocking concrete slabs, stalls/shops’ floors affixed with tiles, and borehole and toilets. The approach to the mini-market has a terrace for parking, infact, it can take about three cars at a time, a good measure to prevent traffic gridlock. The land area is small but it’s masterfully crafted. A shanty has been transformed into a modern structure. Kudos to Oba Ghandi!

The stalls

Inside the market

Approach to the market with interlocking floor

Side view

Cubicles

Cubicles

Gate house

Row of shops

Water source

Row of five shops

Another section of the market

Toliet

Toilets

Front of the market

It appears only stalls/shops’ numbering, and inscription of name of the market remain, before the market roars to life. Thus, in about a month, it’s expected the project will be commissioned and opened for business.

According to the monarch, who is presently in America attending functions of Ogbomoso sons and daughters with the aim of inspiring them to “think home and develop home,” a divisional police headquarters is likewise being built at Pakiotan based on that chieftaincy model. “More will be accomplished for the domain on that basis,” he affirmed.