Excitement as Makinde settles 12years legal tussle between Oyo Govt and Temidire planks traders

The long-running legal dispute between the Oyo State government and the Saw-millers over the use of Temidire Saw-millers Plank Market has been resolved, according to Governor Seyi Makinde on Friday.

The parties agreed on terms in legal documents that would allow the problem to be resolved amicably.

The government has been able to resolve the issue on terms that were advantageous to all parties, according to Governor Seyi Makinde, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye.

The Temidire Plank Market, which is close to the well-known Gbagi Market, was intended to be transformed into a modern market by earlier State administrations, but reports of environmental hazards posed by the saw mill operations led the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration to forcibly evict the traders.

The change resulted in lawsuits, as some dealers relocated to make room for a new plank market while others chose to remain in the place and seek legal action.

Olaleye said “that location used to be occupied by Saw-millers at Temidire near Gbagi market, so the government of Oyo State in 2012 decided to have a very big market there and also relocate the Saw-millers to Fasade community with some provisions made for them, but while some people moved, some refused to move, so there was dispute, they filed cases against government in court, series of court cases and orders.

“So since 2012, the contractor has not been able to complete that project, government has been engaging them in the last six (6) months and today we have been able to resolve on terms that are favorable to all parties.

“We believe that with this, the project can now proceed to the next stage for the benefit of the people of Oyo State and also that the Saw-millers can now resettled wherever they want to be.”

The Temidire commercial complex will soon be finished, according to Governor Makinde, and the next step is for the contractor to work with the government on terms that are advantageous to both the government and the residents of Oyo State.

Adeyemo Adeniyi, the general secretary of the Temidire Saw-millers Plank Market Association and one of the claimants, said that the organization had reached a settlement with the government.

“We have been on this issue since 2012, we thank God that today we are here to sign the agreement that will enable us to continue our business in other location.

“We are not forced to sign the documents with the government, it was done after due consultation and agreement to terms,” Adeniyi said.

The developer, Temidire Business complex, Mr Oyebola Okusanya appreciated the State government for bringing all the parties together and for mutual agreement to be achieved.

He explained that the developer had a public-private-partnership with the last administration in the year 2014 with an agreement to develop the business complex.

He added that some of the occupants moved to the other site at Fasade while some refused to leave.

The State government was thanked by Mr. Oyebola Okusanya, the developer of Temidire Business Complex, for bringing all the parties together and facilitating the achievement of mutual understanding.

In 2014, the developer and the previous administration entered into a public-private partnership with the goal of developing a business complex, he said.

He continued by saying that while some of the residents moved to the other location at Fasade, others resisted leaving.

He also assured that the project will soon be completed, adding that the company also engaged the Saw-millers through the patronage of their goods to build the market.

He went further to commend the laudable infrastructural and developmental projects in the State, adding that Oyo State has become the Mecca of investors because of the enabling environment provided by the Seyi Makinde-led government.