Taiwo Jimoh 
Prince Africanus Ogudoro, the President General of Ladipo International Market has urged traders in the market and other Igbos markets in Lagos to shun the planned protest.
The president made this known on Wednesday in Lagos while addressing the journalists and said he would like to take the protesters down memory lane on other protests that have been held in the country before, but brought sour taste with huge causalities both in human and property.
To this end, we want to toe the line of religious leaders, ethnic groups and other stakeholders to shelve the plan in our market.
He said: “I want to appeal to the Igbos and other traders in Ladipo market not to be part of the protest as our business will be the target of attack and looting of the hoodlums. I believe the protest will be hijacked by miscreants thereby leading to chaos and violence, I also to appeal to the convener of the protest to engage in dialogue.
“I also want to appeal to all Nigerians to consider alternative means of expressing their grievances through dialogue or petition that will yield positive results.
“I also want to beg the Igbos in Lagos not to be involved in the protest, because we are experiencing and breathing fresh air in all sectors under governor Babajide Sanwo’Olu government. President Bola Tinubu should also be given more time to fix the economy.”
Ogudoro added that, ‘ The Ladipo market with be open for business on Thursday.
“For the fact that the miscreants will want to use the opportunity to come into the market to target our business, we have put in place security measures. We would not allow the breakdown of law and order in the market and its environs.
“I cannot divulge our plan for security in the market, but I want to assure everyone that security agencies will be on the ground to protect the market from hoodlums who may want to come in to do otherwise.”
On his own, Monday Obijiogu, the Babaloja of Ladipo market also appealed to the traders not to take part in the planned protest.
Aside from the traders in the market, he also calls on the Igbo parents in Mushin and Odiolowo communities to warn their children and guardians not to partake in the protest.
“The Igbos in Ladipo are law-abiding citizens doing their business in a friendly environment in Lagos, I want to urge the Igbos not to participate in any protest that will cause havoc and breakdown of law and order in the state.
“We don’t want the repeat of Endsars in the state, the family of those who died during the protest are still mourning their loved ones, if we don’t want to be part of those hit by stray bullets should stay away from the protest and mind our various business and caution our children from participating in the protest.
“To prevent the breakdown of law and order that was why we came out to address our people in the market and the Igbos in the community to tell them that the protest is not for our own good, but the interest of some people for their own selfish interest. We also have a general platform where we will disseminate information we have done that too, and all we want is just peace.
“By the grace of God the traders will be in the market tomorrow, we have put security measures in place to avoid a breakdown of law and order and to also prevent hoodlums from accessing the market.”
