The Oyo State APC Governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, BSA, has redeemed his ₦50 million pledge to traders affected by the recent fire inferno at Oranyan Market, Ibadan.
The presentation was made today at the market premises, where Senator Alli representatives led by Director General of his campaign Asiwaju yemi Aderibigbe, Dr. Tunji Olanpekun ,Akogun Akeem Olatunji and other prominent leaders met with victims, market leaders, and stakeholders.
Addressing the traders, BSA Representative Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe said the donation was BSA way of standing with the victims in their time of loss and pain.
“What happened at Oranyan Market was unfortunate and heartbreaking. Many of you lost goods worth millions of naira and your means of livelihood overnight. As your son and as someone who wants to lead this state, I cannot look away,”he said.
He explained that the ₦50m pledge was made during his earlier visit to sympathize with the traders, and that fulfilling it was a matter of principle and compassion.
The fund is expected to be disbursed through the market leadership to support affected traders to restock and rebuild their shops.
Call for Better Market Safety
Senator Alli also used the opportunity to call on the state government to do more to prevent future fire outbreaks in markets across Oyo State.
“We need modern fire-fighting equipment, better market infrastructure, and insurance schemes for our traders. Markets are the engine of our economy and we must protect them,”he added.
He promised that under an APC administration, traders and small business owners would get more support, access to soft loans, and emergency response structures.
Market leaders and victims at the event appreciated the gesture, describing it as the first major support from a political leader since the fire incident.
“Baba BSA has shown that he feels our pain. This money will help many of us start again. We pray God rewards him,”_ one of the victims said.
The redemption of the ₦50m pledge is already generating conversations across Ibadan, with many seeing it as a sign of BSA’s commitment to the welfare of traders and the informal economy — a major voting bloc in Oyo State.
As the 2027 elections approach, the APC candidate says his focus will remain on economic recovery, business support, and protecting the livelihoods of ordinary citizens of Oyo State.
