“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.

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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.”

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