Your Excellency, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the executive governor of Kwara State and the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, we express our deepest gratitude for your continued efforts towards improving the status of our beloved state, elevating it from a bottom-low ranking state to one of the top-ranking states in Nigeria.
Sir, we, the “OK Dealers Association,” humbly write this open letter to you after exhausting all available channels to ensure our concerns reach your attention. We are hopeful that Your Excellency will be receptive to our yearnings and swiftly address our concerns.
As you may be aware, we are a group of individuals, primarily youths, who conduct our daily business activities under the “Post Office Bridge” in Ilorin. Recently, we have been displaced by the Kwara State Ministry of Environment, and asked to vacate the area.
Your Excellency, we recognize the importance of a healthy environment and commend your administration’s efforts towards promoting peaceful coexistence in the state. We also wish to emphasize that our members, who are predominantly youths of the state, rely on our trading activities at this location for their income and livelihood.
These youths have the potential to become business owners in the state and contribute to the growth of Kwara’s economy. Moreover, our business activities provide opportunities to curb hooliganism and crime by engaging young people in productive and legitimate work.
Your Excellency, as we were directed by the Ministry of Environment to relocate to ‘Soludero Park,’ we would like to bring to your attention the challenges we are facing:
1. Lack of Official Documentation: There has been no official documentation provided to us that sanctions our relocation to the new site. This has led to uncertainty and confusion among our members regarding the legitimacy of the move.
2. Space Constraints: The Soludero Park is already occupied by transporters, and accommodating our members in the same area would result in overcrowding. This could lead to difficulties in conducting our business activities efficiently and may also pose safety risks.
3. Potential for Future Conflict: Without a proper process in place for the allocation of space and regulation of activities, we are concerned that issues may arise between our members and the transporters already operating in the area. We fear this could escalate into conflicts, which we sincerely hope to avoid.
Your Excellency, we understand the importance of maintaining a clean and orderly environment, and we are willing to cooperate with the government’s directives. However, we humbly request your intervention in addressing these challenges to ensure a smooth transition and secure our livelihoods.
We propose the following potential solutions for your consideration:
1. Provision of Official Documentation: We kindly request that your administration provide us with the necessary official documentation that permits our relocation to the new site and guarantees our right to conduct our business activities there.
2. Allocation of Adequate Space: We appeal for an alternative location or an expansion of the Soludero Park to accommodate our members comfortably and safely, without causing overcrowding or impeding the operations of the transporters already present.
3. Mediation and Regulation: We would appreciate the government’s assistance in mediating between our association and the transporters to prevent potential conflicts and ensure harmonious coexistence. Furthermore, implementing a clear set of regulations for operating in the new location would help maintain order and prevent future disputes.
In light of these circumstances, we humbly appeal to Your Excellency to provide protection for our goods and help secure an alternative space where we can continue our business activities without disruption. By doing so, you will be empowering the youth of Kwara State and supporting the local economy, while also ensuring the maintenance of a healthy environment and social order.
Your Excellency, we are confident that with your guidance and support, we can overcome these challenges and continue contributing positively to the economy of Kwara State. We look forward to your response and appreciate your commitment to the well-being of all residents in the state. Thank you for your time and consideration.
We trust in your leadership and compassion, and we look forward to a positive response to our appeal. Thank you for your time and consideration, Your Excellency.
Signed:
Mallam Muritala Salman (Babaloja1)
Mallam Musa Lukman (Babaloja2)
Mr Olatunde Makinde Smart (Association
chairman)
Mallam Biodun Mohammed (Vice chairman)
Mr Adebayo Sunday (Secretary)
Mallam Jogbojogbo Jamiu (Treasurer)
