The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Market Liaison, Chief Mrs Odunayo Kayode Danjuma, on Sunday cautioned Oyo Traders Advisory Council against dragging the state governor into their crisis.
Danjuma who spoke with journalists in Ibadan, said she would not have responded to the news reports by some online media over the weekend, but the need to set the records straight and debunk some lies against Makinde necessitated her reaction.
Reacting to the reports, she stated: “I would not know what they are trying to achieve by destroying people they considered as enemies due to their insistence on application of justice, equity and fairness in the selection of leaders for the traders in Oyo State.
“Has governor ever sent any list to them or have I ever presented Princess Folasade Nurudeen, otherwise known as Abeo Osa to the governor as Iyaloja-General or discussed such with the Commissioner for Trade, Mr. Bayo Lawal?
“Let me guide the public on what exactly is their problem. About two years ago, this same people romanced Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje and made her Iyaloja-General while Alhaja Wuraola Kola-Daisi was still alive and functioning as Iyaloja-General of Oyo State. They later dropped Konibaje because she renounced their offer having discovered she was deceived. They had already issued letter and certificate of appointment to Alhaja Saratu Konibaje before their relationship went sour.
“To continue causing crisis among the traders, these same people opted for Princess Folasade Nurudeen, who was not aware of the crisis and promised to make her Iyaloja-General of Oyo State. They issued letter of appointment to Abeo Osa, led her to Oyo, where she was decorated and installed by the late Alaafin of Oyo, an action which traders in Oyo State kicked against.
“What caused the recent outburst now is this, Abeo Osa having discovered she had been badly deceived and exploited pulled out of their ignoble arrangement and declared support for the progress of traders in the state by supporting whatever decision the Congress of Babalojas and Iyalojas in Oyo State come up with.
“Alleging me of parading Alhaji Sunmaila Aderemi Jimoh as Babaloja-General of Oyo State is an insult on the reputation of our highly respected leader, Alhaji Jimoh, who we begged and persuaded to take up the leadership position after the death of Alhaji Adisa, the first Babaloja-General of Oyo State. Whoever is in doubt should investigate, even one of those who led traders to SA Jimoh’s office to pasuade him is now with the traitors. Alhaji Jimoh has never lobbied for the position, he was appointed by traders on merit and he is compelled to defend traders’ mandate for posterity’s sake.
“The conspirators are aware that a case is in court on Babaloja-General’s position, but trying to be unreasonable with their provocative statement. Besides, nobody has opened discussion on market leadership tussle, election has just ended and unfortunately for us, traders’ family in Oyo State, we lost one of our dependable, reliable and vibrant leader, late Chief (Mrs.) Justina Iyabode Ogundoyin, we are still in mourning mood. Bringing this up now at this time is unfair and a reflection of their love for the dead.
“The programme we organised in honour of our late Iyaloja of Ibarapaland, which they alleged me of presenting Abeo Osa as Iyaloja-General of Oyo State was attended by many dignitaries, as well as our respected market leaders. I challenge these mischievous agents of disunity to produce the video or audio of it for public scrutiny.
“The power to appoint Babaloja-General and Iyaloja-General for the state belong to the Congress of Iyalojas and Babalojas from all the 33 local government councils and 6 geopolitical zones in Oyo State, not Oyo State Market Advisory Council nor state government, that’s why the government is not involved. However, government won’t allow itself to be bamboozled by a small group of greedy individuals whose interest is to impose unpopular candidates on over three million traders in the state.
“Like I said earlier, the whistle blowers are the culprits, they’re the one trading leadership positions for their selfish interest. I have evidence of various letters and certificates issued by them to different candidates for the same position. Unfortunately for these shameless people, their preys’ eyes are widely open now, they have ran out of time and the game is over. They are desperately looking for people to drag into their mess.
“My candid advise to those standing on the way of peace on traders crisis in Oyo is to swallow pride, retrace their steps and be ready to work with Iyalojas and Babalojas in the state to ensure peace reign among traders in the state and join hands to develop our market places for the good of all traders in the state, anything contrary will be antiprogressive and will create negative impression in the mind of investors,” Danjuma advised.
