The monarch last month installed Chief Yekini Abass as the Babaloja of Oyo State, a development which was greeted with criticism by the traders.

They said the installation was not the duty of the monarch.

The five trade unions under the coalition that protested include the Oyo State Market Men and Women led by its chairman, Alhaji Dauda Abiodun Oladepo; Ibadan Joint Traders Association led by Chief Odunade Kayode Danjuma; National Association of Nigeria Traders led by Alhaji Kamorudeen Salaudeen; Progressive Trade Men and Artisans led by Chief Tewogbade Tobalase, and Association of Concerned General Traders.

The traders at the rally said if the Oyo State government ratified the Babaloja installed by the monarch, they would instal Babaloja in all the major markets in the state.

The Iyaloja General of Oyo State, Alhaja Wuraola Atanda-Daisi, and the South West Coordinator of National Traders Association of Nigeria, Chief Odunade Kayode-Danjuma, and the Secretary, Chief Abiodun Adegoke, while speaking with journalists, vowed to resist any attempt to impose any Babaloja on the traders in the state.

The Chairman, Oyo State Market Men and Women, Alhaji Dauda Abiodun Oladepo, on his part, said the Olubadan in his letter addressed to the leadership of the traders and dated July 16, promised not to interfere in the internal affairs of the traders, noting that the traders were surprised to discover that he was now imposing a Babaloja General of the state on them rather than maintaining his earlier stand.

He said: “We appreciated the governor for allowing us to work during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. If you see the different unions present here today, you will see that we are the real traders. On this issue of Babaloja of the state, we can’t accept any imposition. Our own Babaloja is Alhaji Jimoh Akinremi.

“Appointing Babaloja General of the state has a process which must be duly followed. All the markets in the state have started the process by visiting the House of Chiefs before we heard someone has been installed. We are talking about Babaloja of Oyo State and not Ibadanland. If the government ratifies the imposed Babaloja, we are going to ensure that all zones have their Babaloja General.”

However while reacting to the allegations, the Olubadan who spoke through his spokesman, Adeola Oloko, said the protesters were aggrieved because they were not favoured by the choice of the traditional ruler,  Alhaji Yekini Abass.

He maintained that the market leadership was an extension of traditional institution, stating that the monarch had done the right thing by installing the right person as the Babalola General of Oyo State.

He said: “Before Olubadan took that step of installing him, he had visited all other monarchs and traditional rulers in the state. Ask those who are protesting including the Iyaloja General of the state. Governor Makinde had even said it is over on the issue of leadership for the traders. All those installed in the markets have the certificate of the Olubadan. That means Olubadan installed them. Why are they now aggrieved.”

The post Oyo: Crisis looms over installation of Babaloja General by Olubadan appeared first on Frontpageng.

“Investigation has started to unravel the cause of the crisis among members of your association but pending the conclusion of the investigation and resolution of the in-fighting, there should be no Iyaloja and Babaloja in the state,” the government has said.

The government’s declaration was made by the state’s Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Adeniyi Adebisi.

The leadership crisis among members of the association in the state predated the present administration but according to Adebisi, there was need to find a lasting solution to the in-fighting so as to entrench a lasting peace among members of the body.

Adebisi who addressed journalists after an extensive meeting with members of the group at his office in Ibadan on Wednesday urged them to work in unison to have the cooperation of the state government.

According to him, the present administration would only give support to any group that maintains peace.

He therefore informed them that the government had declared that nobody should parade himself or herself as ‘Iyaloja’ or ‘Babaloja’ of Oyo State pending the investigation and resolution into the crisis.

“The present administration is interested in promotion of peace and harmony among the people of the state because this is the only way we can promote economy by inviting investors to the State and build commerce and employment opportunities.

“We would implore you to maintain peace among yourselves so you can enjoy support of the government, we can only give you your due recognition and support if you work in unity and support government to entrench security of lives and properties; this is important to us and should be important to you as well.

“Investigation has started to unravel the cause of the crisis among members of your association but pending the conclusion of the investigation and resolution of the in-fighting, there should be no Iyaloja and Babaloja in the state,” he declared.

The post No ‘Iyaloja’ or ‘Babaloja’ in Oyo State until resolution of crisis –Govt appeared first on Frontpageng.

They are Mr. Adeniyi Olasoji and Mrs. Abisola Azeez, respectively.

They were installed on Thursday by the President-General, Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo.

The installation was despite protests on Wednesday by some members of the Computer Village who said it would be wrong to install a “Babaloja” and “Iyaloja” in it being an “international market.”

The protest paralysed business activities at the market for many hours.

But reacting to the protest on Wednesday, Tinubu-Ojo stated that it was within her right to choose leaders of any market as she is the leader of the commodity markets.

She said she did not impose anyone but only ratified the persons chosen as leaders by the people of the market.

She accused some officials of Computer Dealers and Allied Products Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) of being behind the protest.

According to her, their tenure had expired and they wanted to remain in office endlessly.

Speaking during the installation of the new heads of the market at a colourful ceremony on Thursday, Tinubu-Ojo called on them to see the new post as a call to service.

She said they should do everything possible to impact positively on the market and the traders in general.

She also pledged her support.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the ceremony, Tinubu-Ojo said the aggrieved officials of CAPDAN had visited her over the issue.

Her words:  “I don’t have any issues with them (protesters), they have been here; they came yesterday after I addressed the press and they related their position.

“In fact, the former President of CAPDAN, Mr Adeniyi Ojikutu, came this morning. We talked at length and the next thing for us is to call another meeting.

“I don’t have issues with them. The only thing was that they should have come here instead of carrying placards when they got the information that there was going to be installation.

“They should have come to have a chat with me and perhaps, we may have ironed out issues and understood each other.

“Disagreements are bound to happen, there is no way we won’t step on each others’ toes in offices, markets and so on, but the ability to manage the crisis is what matters, which is the next line of action.

“I have even told the Iyaloja and Babaloja I installed today that we are still going to revisit the issues with the other people at a round table.”

The post Despite protests, Computer Village gets ‘Babaloja’, ‘Iyaloja’ appeared first on Frontpageng.