*tension mounts over planned installation of another head of traders
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Traders in Oyo State under the aegis of Conference of Iyalojas on Wednesday, called on the state Commissioner of Police to immediately intervene in the brewing tension over alleged activities of Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN) and its leadership in the state
The Conference of Iyalojas in a petition jointly signed by Alhaja Sariatu Olorunero, Iyaloja of Ibadanland and Alhaja Rafata Wahaab, Iyaloja of Ogbomosoland on behalf of the Iyalojas from 33 local government councils (Conference of Iyalojas in Oyo State), alerted that the alleged activities of MATAN and its leadership are capable of causing possible breakdown of laws and order in the state.
Specifically, the Conference asked
the Oyo state Police Commissioner to stop ” Princess Folasade Nurudeen, otherwise known as Abeo Osa and Market Traders Association of Nigeria from setting Ibadan and Oyo State as a whole ablaze through their alleged illegal activities.
Dissociating themselves from the alleged activities of Folasade Nurudeen which they described as ” unjust, immoral and unconstitutional”, the Iyalojas said, ” we request you Sir to use your good office to stop intention of Princess Folasade Nurudeen and MATAN to set Oyo ablaze by aspirating to become Iyaloja-General of Oyo State and Southwest region”.
The Conference of Iyalojas stressed ” In-addition, we request an investigation to be carried out on Princess Folasade Nurudeen’s claims, it should be established whether or not Princess Folasade Nurudeen has ever belong to any known Traders Association, if she has ever been engaging in business transaction within state, provide the address of store or shop where she has been operating from in the last 10 years”.
” We have said it severally that Princess Nurudeen has no relationship with traders in Oyo State prior to her recent outburst and unjust desperation for the position of Iyaloja – General. Inspite of several warnings from various leaders and associations in the state, we noticed the unwillingness in the attitude of Princess Nurudeen to give up illegal aspiration of forcing herself on over 2.5 million traders in Oyo State through the help of some rebellions among some associations lump together with traders by the last administration”, it said.
The petitioners added, ” MATAN is unknown association in Oyo State, we know those who invited MATAN, we also know their mission. Those who invited them to cause problem in the state are not traders but presenting themselves to politicians and corporate organizations as market leaders to exploit the unsuspected people’.
According to the Iyalojas, “Unfortunately, during investigation, we discovered that Folasade Nurudeen has never been a member of any trade association in Oyo State. Our finding with the Oyo State Ministry of Trade and Industry also revealed that Market Traders Association (MATAN) was never registered with the ministry.
” We also discovered that Folasade has never had any shop in any of the market places in Oyo State, in addition she hasn’t been engaging in the act of buying and selling within the state. Further investigation with the corporate affairs commission added that MATAN is not an active registered organisation in Nigeria.
“It is on record that no association has constitutional right to install Iyaloja-General in any state because the function of Iyaloja-General is beyond the locus stands of any association. The right to elect and install Iyaloja-General rested on traders from all the local government councils in each state, who will be represented by the Iyalojas and Babalojas from all the local government councils.
They maintained, ” The proposed Iyaloja-General of Southwest planned to confer on Folasade Nurudeen by MATAN is a joke taken too far, no association has such right. As at the time of releasing this document each of the six states in the Southwest has Babaloja-General and Iyaloja-General; there is no Iyaloja-General for the Southwest region, it’s unconstitutional and impossible for any group or association to hide under conspirators in any state to initiate unacceptable idea that will further polarise traders in the region.
The Iyalojas in the petition called on the Oyo police command to ensure “that Folasade Nurudeen should with immediate effect desist from parading herself as a member of traders in Oyo State because it is an ignoble thought to intrude into a registered associations in an unconstitutional manner and conniving with women of no integrity to make herself Iyaloja-General of Oyo State and Southwest region
They demanded that ” Folasade Nurudeen should stop presenting herself to corporate organizations, banks, farmers, government agencies (home and abroad), individuals and politicians as a representative of traders in Oyo State and should not enter into any transaction or negotiation with the above listed names under pretence of acting on behalf of traders in Oyo State.”
“Our leaders have elected, ratified and sworn-in the Babaloja-General and Iyaloja-General of Oyo State before the rebellions and saboteurs collaborated with enemies from outside to disstabilize the state. The Babaloja-General of Oyo State is Alhaji Sunmaila Aderemi Jimoh, while Iyaloja-General of Oyo State is Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje and there is no controversy till date on their leadership.
“No one can emerge as the head of traders in Oyo State without previously held various positions in the association he or she belongs. For instance, the current Iyaloja-General of Oyo State, Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje has held various positions in the past, from unit to local government, zonal and state, in actual facts she is till date the President of Agriculture Produce Sellers Association in Oyo State. She was among the first set of traders that started Bodija International Market some decades ago.
“We would appreciate your quick intervention in stoping the proposed installation of Princess Nurudeen on Thursday 22 September, 2022, this will calm the tension down and prevent possible breakdown of laws and order in the state.”
