The Traders Association in Oyo State has been embroiled in a leadership crisis as a section of the market has allegedly disowned Alhaji Yekinni Abass as Babaloja General of Oyo State.
A group led by Chief Olawoyin Theophilus, Babaloja of Olorunsogo local government, Igbeti, had, in a statement, queried the election of Abass as Babaloja General of Oyo State.
He also condemned the alleged misuse of office instruments, which led to the arrest of Alhaji Sunmaila Aderemi.
The statement read, “What we are witnessing in Nigeria today is terrible and a serious setback for our nascent democracy. Imagine an illegal person using government instruments to intimidate and harass us in a democratic setting.
“Traders from the 33 local government councils in Oyo State, including leaders from the 5 zones, came together to elect and install Alhaji Sunmaila Aderemi Jimoh as their Babaloja-General at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat, Agodi Ibadan, on August 24, 2020. We introduced him to the House of Assembly and the Ministry of Trade and Investment, just for their information and to know who to refer to on trading issues.
“Unfortunately, a conspiracy brought some individuals, a food canteen operator, and 2 bad eggs among traders together, and they went with Yekini Abass to the palace of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, to be installed by the royal father as Babaloja-General. There are enough documents, including newspapers and videos, on both installations.
“Trade associations are entities registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); therefore, traditional institutions, government, religious groups, and social clubs do not have any right to interfere with our activities.
“If we have an unresolved issue, the appropriate authority to approach is the judiciary; that’s the court of law. In case of civil disturbance, the right authority to handle that are the law enforcement agencies.
“The power to elect and install Babaloja-General and Iyaloja-General belongs to the Congress of Babalojas and Iyalojas from the 33 local government councils, and these are the heads and representatives of all markets in each of the 33 local government councils; all clusters of traders associations are well represented.
It is after they have elected their leaders (Babaloja-General and Iyaloja-General) that they will present them to the Governor, Royal Fathers in the state, corporate organisations, and government agencies (federal and state) for recognition and blessing. This we have done since 2020 and equally forwarded it to the Chairman, House Committee on Trade.
“I want to advise your Excellency, Gov. Seyi Makinde, to call on all political office holders in Oyo State to stop using government instruments to intimidate, harass, humiliate, and disgrace peace-loving traders in the state.
We know our Babaloja-General and Iyaloja-General; we have not stopped anybody from relating with traders, but nobody can force traders to relate or submit themselves under an illegal person’s authority.
“We love the governor; we worked for his victory at the polls twice, and we are supporting his administration; therefore, the governor should reciprocate our good works and thoughts towards him by defending democracy and the rule of law in the state. He should not allow enemies of his achievements and administration to humiliate and torture those going about their lawful businesses,” Babaloja stated.
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