In a petition sent to the Commisioner of Police, Oyo State Command on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Conference of Iyalojas in Oyo State requested the CP to stop Princess Folasade Nurudeen, otherwise known as Abeo Osa and Market Traders Association of Nigeria from setting the State, Ibadan in particular ablaze through their illegal activities.
The petition was jointly signed by Alhaja Sariatu Olorunero, Iyaloja of Ibadanland and Alhaja Rafata Wahaab, Iyaloja of Ogbomosoland on behalf of the Iyalojas from the 33 Local Government Councils.
The petitioners dissociated themselves from Folasade Nurudeen’s activities which they described as unjust, immoral and unconstitutional and also requested for the CP immediate intervention to calm the tension and prevent possible breakdown of laws and order in the state.
“We have said it severally that Princess Nurudeen otherwise known as Abeo Osa 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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“It’s easy for these people to lobby MATAN for Folasade Nurudeen’s immoral ambition, which they know can not be achieved but can cause disunity among traders in the state because they are not genuine traders, most of these people are carpenters, bricklayers, food canteen operators.
“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 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.
“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.
The petitioners requested from police authority, “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.
“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.
“That Folasade Nurudeen should stop adding, Iyaloja-General of Oyo State or Iyaloja-General of Southwest to her names on all publications, letters, broadcasts or complements.
“That Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN) should drop with immediate effect the idea of installing anybody as Iyaloja-General of Oyo State or Iyaloja-General of Southwest in Ibadan, Oyo State.
“That MATAN should discontinue with the proposed installation of Princess Folasade Nurudeen as Iyaloja-General of Oyo State and Iyaloja-General of Southwest region slated for Thursday 22 September, 2022 in Ibadan.
“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.”
