Peter Obi, Agbaje denied access to Trade Fair complex

For about two hours yesterday the campaign train of the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Vice Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and the Lagos governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje was stranded in the sun as it was prevented from accessing the Trade Fair complex, venue of the campaign. It, however, took the intervention of Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edgal Imohinmi before respite came their way.

The management of the business complex and the DPO in charge of the area prevented them from entering into the facility, forcing their convoy to wait in the sun for about two hours. Later, market leaders, who spent much of that time making frantic phone calls to get the strange order revoked, came to announce that the Commissioner of Police had given a counter-order that they should be allowed to campaign in the premises.

In contrast to the treatment they suffered at Trade Fair-ASPAMDA, the PDP flag-bearers had received a rousing reception at the Alaba International Electronics Market earlier that morning. However, when the PDP team drove in a formidable convoy of about tens of vehicles, it was stopped on the access bridge into the Trade Fair Complex.

In reference to the access road to the market, Agbaje said at Alaba “we shall complete this road and bring your nightmare to an end. Your container will not be falling on this road again.” He, however, promised that the PDP if voted into power in Lagos state would improve conditions in the market to ensure that its over 2 million daily patronage would shoot up to 5 million.

When the CP’s order came, the convoy drove into the complex, and Obi and Agbaje immediately left their vehicles and walked through the place, shaking hands with citizens, and the hailing crowd chanted after the strolling duo.

Traders and residents, who had borne the brunt of the uncompleted and traffic-ridden Apapa- Badagry highway for the past 10 years, screamed their desire for a change in government.