The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2027 Oyo State election, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, has sympathised with traders and residents affected by the recent fire outbreak at Oranyan Market, Ibadan.
Gbolarumi, a former deputy governor of the state, described the incident as a tragic loss that had disrupted the livelihoods of hardworking traders and subjected affected families to severe hardship.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Gbolarumi said he received the news of the fire outbreak with deep sadness, noting that many traders had lost their goods, businesses and means of livelihood to the inferno.
He commiserated with the affected traders, their families and residents of the area, urging them to remain hopeful despite the scale of the losses.
Gbolarumi said the affected traders had invested their resources and years of effort in building their businesses, stressing that the destruction of their goods represented not only a financial setback but also a threat to the economic survival of many families.
He called for concerted efforts by relevant authorities, individuals and well-meaning organisations to support the victims in rebuilding their businesses and returning to their means of livelihood.
According to him, immediate assistance to the affected traders would help cushion the impact of the disaster and prevent the fire incident from worsening the economic difficulties confronting many families.
The former deputy governor also expressed concern over the safety of markets across the state, urging authorities to strengthen fire prevention and emergency response measures in major markets.
He said regular inspection of markets, improved access for emergency vehicles and provision of functional firefighting equipment would help prevent similar incidents and minimise losses when emergencies occur.
Gbolarumi prayed for strength and comfort for the affected traders and their families, while urging them not to lose hope in the aftermath of the disaster.
He also called on the government and other stakeholders to work together to ensure that the victims receive the necessary support to recover from the losses and resume their businesses.
